A Report on The Status Of Royal Bengal Tiger In Bangladesh

Abstract

This report presents an analysis of the effects of the captive environment on the behaviors of captive Bengal tigers. A cross-sectional study was done by pre-questionnaire. The study area was in different zoos and safari park of Bangladesh (Dhaka, Khulna and Rangpur) Zoo and (Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujib safari park, Cox’s bazar and Bangabondhu safari park, Gazipur).Captive environments in zoological parks often do not provide for natural behaviors due to spatial constraints and negative public reaction. As the numbers of Bengal tigers decline, captive breeding programs have become a major focus of the zoos community, which magnifies the importance of research on tiger husbandry. The observed ratio (male: female) was not satisfactory, which was very difficult to manage because different zoo are under the different authority. The population of free ranging Bengal tigers in Bangladesh (Sundarban) by 2016 is about 106 (Tiger census though pug mark), But previously the population of royal Bengal tiger was about 445 in the year of 2005 (Tiger census by IUCN and UNDP). It indicates that the tiger population in free range also decreasing day by day. This study also includes feeding, breeding, deworming and health status of captive and semi captive Bengal Tigers. Tigers (Panthera Tigris) present a difficult case; they have large home ranges in the wild and natural predatory hunting behaviors that are difficult to provide for in captivity The results of this study showed clearly that tigers kept in more natural and complex enclosures performed less stereotypic pacing (unnatural behavior), and more exploratory (natural) behaviors than those housed in less natural enclosures. Reducing the stress level in captive tigers will enhance the animals’ overall physical and psychological well being, which will in turn increase the success of captive breeding programs. These results suggest that captive tigers should be housed in large enclosures containing natural substrate and vegetation, water pools, ample shade, a variety of resting locations, and a variety of enrichment items