Bangladesh Has Only 189 Tigers, Warns State Minister

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku today spoke to the media following a rally organized by the Bangladesh National Zoo authority in Mipur.

Bangladesh currently has only 189 tigers, including those in the Sundarbans and zoos across the country, leaving the species vulnerable to extinction, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku said on Wednesday.

He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a rally at Bangladesh National Zoo marking Global Tiger Day.

"Tigers are among the most important wildlife species in the world and an essential part of biodiversity. Raising public awareness and developing a conservation mindset among the younger generation are crucial to protecting this animal," the state minister said.

He said the global tiger population, which was around 100,000 a century ago, has declined to about 5,000, indicating the serious threat facing the species.

"If we do not take effective initiatives now and fail to raise public awareness, this species will face a deeper crisis in the future," he warned.

According to the state minister, the Sundarbans currently has 124 tigers, while Bangladesh National Zoo has around 15 and other zoos across the country together have about 50.

He described tigers as a national asset and said the government would continue taking necessary steps for their conservation so that future generations can learn about the species and understand the importance of protecting wildlife.

Responding to journalists' questions about the budget for tiger census and transparency in the counting process, Sultan Salauddin Tuku said tiger surveys are conducted by the Forest Department, not the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

He said the Forest Department carries out the census through its own transparent process.

The state minister later inaugurated a souvenir shop at Bangladesh National Zoo.