Jharkhali, West Bengal | September 16, 2026
In the Sundarbans, a group of women who lost their husbands to tiger attacks are helping restore the very forests that changed their lives forever.
Known locally as Bagh Bidhoba, or “tiger widows”, these women are joining other members of their communities in an ambitious mangrove restoration initiative at Jharkhali in South 24 Parganas district.
Their mission is to restore approximately 100 hectares of degraded mangrove habitat by planting one lakh saplings, strengthening the fragile ecosystem that supports both people and wildlife.
The human cost of living in tiger country
For thousands of families in the Sundarbans, entering the forest is a necessity rather than a choice. Fishing, crab collection and honey gathering provide vital income, but these activities can bring people into close contact with Royal Bengal tigers.
According to figures cited by The Better India, tiger attacks claimed 67 lives in the Sundarbans between 2016 and 2020.
For the women left behind, the tragedy often extends beyond the loss of a husband. Many face financial hardship, social exclusion and even accusations that they somehow brought misfortune upon their families.
Yet some of these women have chosen to participate in protecting the forest on which their communities depend.
One lakh saplings, one shared mission
At Jharkhali, the women are helping regenerate damaged mangrove areas by planting native saplings.
The restoration work is intended to rebuild coastal vegetation, stabilise vulnerable shorelines and improve the resilience of villages exposed to cyclones and tidal flooding.
Mangrove roots bind soil and reduce erosion, while dense vegetation can lessen the force of waves. The forests also provide nursery grounds for fish and crabs, supporting local livelihoods.
For the women involved, planting mangroves is therefore not simply an act of wildlife conservation. It is also an investment in the safety and economic future of their families.
Women at the centre of conservation
The Jharkhali initiative demonstrates how communities affected by human-wildlife conflict can become active participants in conservation.
SEED’s community-led mangrove revival programme, operating in Jharkhali since 2022, involves local women, including widows of tiger-attack victims, in nursery development, plantation and restoration activities. It also seeks to support alternative livelihoods and strengthen household resilience.
The involvement of these women brings an important perspective to conservation: protecting forests must go hand in hand with protecting the people who depend on them.
Can mangrove restoration reduce tiger attacks?
Healthy mangroves are essential to the Sundarbans ecosystem, but planting trees alone cannot prevent tiger attacks.
People will continue to face risks when their livelihoods require them to enter tiger habitat. Safer livelihood opportunities, effective conflict-response systems and support for affected families remain necessary.
Nevertheless, restoring degraded mangroves can strengthen wildlife habitat, support fisheries and improve coastal protection—benefits that matter to both conservation and local communities.
Turning loss into hope
The women of Jharkhali have experienced the consequences of human-tiger conflict more personally than most.
Their decision to help restore the mangroves is a reminder that conservation cannot succeed by focusing on wildlife alone.
It must also recognise the grief, economic insecurity and everyday risks faced by people living beside protected forests.
Through one lakh mangrove saplings, these women are helping rebuild not just a forest, but a safer and more resilient future for their communities.
Source credit: The Better India (September 10, 2026) and India Today (September 15, 2026), with additional background from SEED’s community-led mangrove restoration programme.
Original reports: The Better India | India Today
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