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Fish and Livestock Affairs State Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku has warned that the global tiger population is facing a serious threat, saying the number of tigers has declined dramatically over the past century.
Speaking to journalists after a rally organised at the Bangladesh National Zoo on Wednesday marking World Tiger Day, the minister said the global tiger population was around 100,000 a century ago, but it has now fallen to nearly 5,000.
“The statistics clearly show that the existence of tigers is under threat,” he said.
The minister described tigers as one of the world’s most important wild animals and an essential part of biodiversity. He stressed the need to increase public awareness and develop a conservation mindset among the younger generation to protect the endangered species.
“If we do not take effective measures immediately and fail to create awareness among people, this species will face greater risks in the future,” he said.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s tiger population, Tuku said there are currently 124 tigers in the Sundarbans, the country’s largest mangrove forest. In addition, around 15 tigers are kept at the Bangladesh National Zoo, while approximately 50 tigers are housed in different zoos across the country.
“Tiger is a national asset for us. The government will continue taking necessary steps to conserve this animal so that future generations can learn about tigers and understand the importance of protecting them,” he added.
Responding to questions from journalists regarding the budget allocation and transparency of tiger counting, the minister said the issue falls under the responsibility of the Forest Department, not the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.
“Tiger counting is conducted by the Forest Department. They carry out the process through their own mechanism with transparency,” he said.
Following the programme, the minister inaugurated a souvenir shop at the Bangladesh National Zoo.
The event was attended by Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Secretary Md Delwar Hossain, Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Md Shahjaman Khan, Bangladesh National Zoo Director Dr Md Shahinur Alam, Zoo Curator Dr Md Habibur Rahman, Bangladesh Animal Welfare Association Convener Adnan Azad, and senior officials from the ministry, the livestock department and the national zoo.
The minister’s remarks came as conservationists around the world marked World Tiger Day with renewed calls for stronger measures to protect the declining tiger population and preserve their natural habitats.
