More than 30 people lost their lives in tiger attacks in the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve between 2021 and 2025, according to data presented by the Central Government in Parliament. The figures underscore the continuing challenge of human-tiger conflict in one of the world’s largest mangrove ecosystems, where thousands of people depend on the forest for their livelihoods.

The Sundarbans, spread across West Bengal and Bangladesh, is home to a unique population of Royal Bengal Tigers that inhabit dense mangrove forests crisscrossed by tidal rivers and creeks. Local residents, including fishermen, honey collectors and crab catchers, frequently venture into the reserve to earn a living, increasing the risk of encounters with tigers.

The government informed Parliament that despite sustained conservation efforts and improved protection measures, human fatalities continue to occur in the reserve. Authorities have implemented several initiatives to reduce conflict, including strengthened patrolling, awareness programmes in fringe villages, compensation for victims’ families and measures to discourage unauthorized entry into core forest areas.

The Sundarbans has long been recognised as one of the world’s most challenging landscapes for coexistence between humans and large carnivores. Tigers here are strong swimmers and frequently move across islands separated by tidal channels, while the difficult terrain makes monitoring and rescue operations particularly demanding.

Conservation experts note that reducing dependence on forest resources, strengthening livelihood alternatives for local communities and improving early-warning systems will be critical to minimizing future human-tiger conflict while ensuring the long-term survival of the Sundarbans’ iconic tiger population.