Tourists entering the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, encountered two tigers swimming in Cuttack and Kochikhali.
Passengers of two ships named Sampan and Crown got this rare opportunity to see these two tigers on Saturday and Sunday.
Russell, a passenger of the tourist ship Sapman, said: “On September 2 (Saturday), the Sampan went from Cuttack to Kochikhali. On reaching Kochikhali around noon, a tiger was seen crossing the river. 55 passengers on this ship enjoyed the scene. Many tried to take pictures. The tiger was 80 yards away.”
Majharul Islam Kochi, joint general secretary of Tour Operators Association of Sundarbans and proprietor of Evergreen Tours, said that the Sundarbans were opened from September 1 after a three-month ban.
“On the first day, nine ships including seven from Khulna went to Sundarbans with 349 tourists. On September 2 (Saturday), Sampan passengers saw the tiger. On Sunday, the passengers of Crown also saw a tiger as well,” he added.
Tourists are flocking to the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest and a Unesco World Heritage Site, after the Forest Department lifted a three-month ban on tourism on Friday (1 September).
Due to the breeding season of fish and wild animals, the entry of fishermen and tourists to the Sundarbans was closed from 1 June to 31 August.
According to the latest data from the Forest Department, the Sundarbans is home to a diverse ecosystem, boasting 114 Royal Bengal Tigers, 375 species of wild animals including a vast population of deer, 334 species of plants encompassing the iconic Sundari trees, 165 species of algae, 13 species of orchids, and 300 species of birds.
Moreover, the Sundarbans' aquatic realm harbours 291 species of fish, including crocodiles and dolphins, encompassing 1,874 square kilometres of water.