West Bengal has 2 designated tiger reserve.
Table of Contents
Buxa Tiger Reserve
- Location: Alipurduar Sub-division of Jalpaiguri District, West Bengal, India.
- Geography: Lies in the Gangetic Plains with the Himalayas bordering it.
- Border: Northern boundary runs along the international border with Bhutan. Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary of Bhutan is contiguous to the north.
- Ecological Significance: Serves as an international corridor for Asian elephant migration between India and Bhutan.
- Historical Significance: Famous for the ruins of the historic Buxa Fort, once used as a detention camp during the Indian independence movement. Buxa was also famous for dolomite mining.
- Establishment as Tiger Reserve: Buxa Tiger Reserve was established in 1983; 15th tiger reserve of India.
- National Park Status: Declared as a National Park in 1992.
- Area: Approximately 760 sq.km (Core/Critical Tiger Habitat: 390.58 sq.km; Buffer: 370.29 sq.km; Total: 760.87 sq.km).
- Hills: Situated in the Buxa Hills. The Sinchula hill range lies along the northern side of the tiger reserve.
- Rivers/Streams: Sankosh River, Raidak River, Jayanti River, Churnia River, Turturi River, Phashkhawa River, Dima River, Nonani River.
- Tribes: Dukpa tribe, one of the most ancient groups in the region.
- Plants: Sal Tree, Teak, Simul Tree, Kusum Tree, Mahua Tree.
- Animals: Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Sloth Bear, Hyena, Elephant, Gaur, Sambar.
- Conservation Initiatives: Rajabhatkhawa Vulture Breeding Center, established to breed and conserve the endangered Indian vultures.
Sundarban Tiger Reserve
- Location: Coastal districts of West Bengal — South 24-Parganas and part of North 24-Parganas (Arbesi Block only).
- Geography: Situated in the Sundarbans delta, formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers.
- Boundary: Eastern boundary along the international border with Bangladesh.
- History/Significance:
- 1973: Designated as a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger.
- 1977: Sundarbans Reserve Forest designated as a wildlife sanctuary.
- 1984: Sundarbans Wildlife Sanctuary declared a National Park.
- 1987: Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- 1989: Declared a Biosphere Reserve by the Government of India.
- 2001: UNESCO included Sundarbans in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
- 2019: Recognized as a Ramsar Wetland Site.
- Area: 2,584.89 sq.km (Core/Critical Tiger Habitat: 1,699.62 sq.km; Buffer Area: 885.27 sq.km).
- Rivers: Ganges River (Hooghly River), Matla River, Bidyadhari River, Raimangal River, Harinbhanga River.
- Plants: Mangroves (Sundar, Gewa, Goran, Keora), Non-Halophytic Non-Mangrove Associates (Indian almond, Indian rosewood).
- Animals: Tiger, Gangetic Dolphin, Irrawaddy Dolphin, Estuarine Crocodile, Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle.