The Sundarbans of Bangladesh may have more tigers compared to the Indian side owing to its larger area, but the neighbouring country came out on top in terms of tiger density. A report published by the Times of India on Monday made the disclosure, quoting Indian scientists who compiled findings at the mangrove forests belonging to Bangladesh and India. The scientists have found that the Indian Sundarbans has four tigers per 100sq km, which is almost twice that of the Sundarbans of Bangladesh side. Stating that the Bangladesh Sundarbans has a larger area and a bigger tiger-occupied habitat, senior scientist of Wildlife Institute of India, YV Jhala pointed out that the tiger density there is only 2.17 tigers per 100sq km. According to a recent report on Indo-Bangla tiger estimates, the tiger-occupied area of the Bangladeshi side is also larger- at around 4,832sq km, compared to India’s 1,841sq km. Jhala also added that the reason behind the lower tiger density in Bangladesh is poaching. The report, titled “Status of Tigers in the Sundarbans Landscape of Bangladesh and India” also revealed that the encounter rate of human sign and sighting was higher in Bangladesh Sundarbans, which is further exacerbated by the usage of river channels for transportation of commercial vehicles. Jhala speculated that the tiger population in the Bangladeshi Sundarbans is much below the actual carrying capacity, while the Indian side has reached carrying capacity The tiger density count exercise was conducted in the last few years. The scientists recorded the highest tiger density in the Sajnekhali range of the Indian Sundarbans, while the lowest was recorded in Bangladesh’s Khulna range. Both Bangladesh and India are currently conducting a camera-trap exercise in 2018 to get a more reliable estimate. The exercise at Basirhat and National Park (east) in the Indian Sundarbans has ended, but it is still going on at Khulna and Sarankhola ranges in Bangladesh.