Bangladesh is a beautiful country with many rivers, forests, and hills. Tengragiri Wildlife sanctuary is a type of mangrove forest in southern Bangladesh.
Mangrove forests are prominent in Bangladesh’s diverse forests with different characteristics. Such forests developed with a floral diversity adapted to tidal flow and salinity.
Mangrove forests are in the south and southwest coastal regions of Bangladesh. Such forests are available in world-renowned Sunderbans. It is also available in Nijhum Deep, Kuakata, Hatia, and Cox’s Bazar.
Tengragiri Wildlife Sanctuary
Fatar Char is in Taltali Upazila of Barguna under Patuakhali coastal forest department. The central forest of Fatrar Char is Tengragirir. But many people know it as the Fatrar forest.
Spread from Taltali to Kuakata, this place encompasses 13644 acres of area. On 24th October 2010, this place got recognition from Bangladesh Government.
The government declared about 4050 hectares of this place, the Tengragiri wildlife sanctuary. This extended char from Sunderbans stands west of Kuakata.
The Bay of Bengal surrounds this place on three sides. This forest faces ebb and floods twice a day. It is the second-largest tropical forest in Bangladesh after the Sundarbans.
A few small canals flow through the forest. You can take a boat to see this place and the magnificent forms of biodiversity. An extensive canal stands on the side.
Different sections of this canal have various names. Among those prominent are Silvertail, Fechuar Canal, Gaum Talar Canal, and Sudirer Canal.
It is a mangrove forest because various mangrove plants sustain in this forest. Plant species like Sea Derris, Karamja, and Cynometra are available here.
These plants have made this sanctuary a safe habitat for wildlife. Here, amphibians are scarcer. Reptiles include Water Monitors, pythons, and some species of snakes and geckos.
Among mammals are fishing cats, boar, foxes, and others. The sanctuary is rich in bird diversity. Many species of birds live in this sanctuary.
It includes Owls, Kestrels, Kingfishers, Egrets, and Eagles. They roam in the sanctuary trees. Various bird species are also available in water bodies.
Again, diverse invertebrate species are available throughout the sanctuary. This sanctuary is also rich in aquatic animals.
They are inseparable parts of it. These animals have enriched and beautified the Tengragiri mangrove forest. It has a great love for the sea and is a quiet place.
The unbridled beauty of this nature-grown forest is enchanting. The vast shores amidst the roaring sea and quiet place captivate nature lovers. It seems like a floating forest.
In 2011, the government established the Tengragiri eco-park in the Sakhina Bit. The government set up deer and boar enclosures for observing deer and boars.
They also set up a crocodile enclosure for observing crocodiles. Innumerable tourists folk to see this beauty. There is a 3.50-kilometer brick road for tourists, and it goes through the forest to the beach.
This sanctuary is famous for visitors of different ages to view nature. It also protects the coast from various natural disasters and has environmental significance.
But, for various reasons, it is facing damage. Aerial root plants are dying from silt accumulation. At the same time, cutting trees has led to a grave crisis.
Again, climate change has led to rising water levels at the tide. Strong sea waves are harming the sanctuary coast and reducing its area.
As a result, the environment of this sanctuary is facing an imbalance. Animals are also becoming endangered.
So to conserve Tengragiri, the government should strengthen an inclusive management system. Here, artificial forestry can help develop this sanctuary.
We all should be conscious of this sanctuary and its animals. Only then, Tengragiri wildlife sanctuary will flourish, and its biodiversity will prosper.
Tengragiri has become a favorite tourist destination for people. It is famous from the local township to the entire of Bangladesh. It is the result of the beautification of this place in 2010.
A government-aided eco-tourism scheme attracted the attention of domestic and foreign tourists. It floods twice a day by tides.
Due to the perfect mixture of saline and sweet soil, this place is home to many extinct species of trees. It is not only home to trees but also many birds and reptiles.
Conclusion
The dense forests of Tengragiri can impress any tourist. The free-roaming of red crabs and the chirping of birds also can impress.
This area, in Southern Bangladesh, shows the bonding of the sea and the forest. It has a beautiful beach with a mangrove forest.