Answer: The Sundarbans is a vast mangrove forest shared by Bangladesh and India, across the coastline of the Bay of Bengal. The forest is famous as a habitat of our national beast Royal Bengal Tiger. But it is an alarming news that 71% of the forest's coastline is retreating by nearly 200 meters a year as a result of soil erosion. If it continues, tigers' existence will be at stake. The causes of this erosion are increasing storm, surges and other extreme natural events, rises in sea-level and increased salinity that makes mangroves vulnerable. This rapid retreating of coastline cannot be accounted by the regular dynamics of the Sundarbans. Thus the forest is now a critical tiger habitat. The forest is known for vanishing islands but the scientists said the current retreat of the mangrove forests on the coastline is not normal. As human development thrives, and global temperature continues to rise, natural protection from tidal waves and cyclones are lessening at an alarming rate. This will inevitably lead to species loss in this richly biodiverse part of the world. It is one of the few forests that can hold several hundred tigers. So it is now vitally necessary to save this forest for saving the majestic Bengal Tigers from extinction.
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