Sundarbans National Park

The **Sunderbans National Park** is a National Park, tiger reserve, and a Biosphere Reserve in the Sunderban delta.  It is in the Indian state of West Bengal. This area is densely covered by mangrove forests.  It is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger. It is also home to a variety of bird, reptile and invertebrate species, including the salt-water crocodile. On May 4, 1984 it was made a National Park.

There are seven main rivers and many watercourses forming a network of channels at this delta.  They all run southward towards the sea.  The coastal area has many mudflats.  They are the right environment for mangroves.

## Flora

The mangrove vegetation of Sundarbans has 64 plant species. They can withstand estuarine conditions and large amounts of saline. In the months of April and May the flaming red leaves of the genwa (_Excoecaria agallocha_) the crab-like red flowers of the kankra (_Bruguiera gymnorrhiza_) and the yellow flowers of khalsi (_Aegiceras corniculatum_) can be seen. Some of the other commonly found plants and trees in the park are dhundal (or cannonball mangrove, _Xylocarpus granatum_), passur (_Xylocarpus mekongensis_), garjan (_Rhizophora_ spp.), sundari (_Heritiera fomes_) and goran (_Ceriops decandra_).

## Fauna

The Sundarbans forest is home to more than 400 tigers. The Royal Bengal Tigers have developed a unique characteristic of swimming in the saline waters.  They are famous for their man-eating tendencies. Tigers can be seen on the river banks sunbathing between November and February.

Apart from the Bengal tiger there are also many fishing cats, leopard cats, macaques, wild boar, Indian grey mongoose, fox, jungle cat, flying fox, pangolin, chital.

### Birds

Some of the birds commonly found in this region are red junglefowls, spot-billed pelicans, great egrets, cormorants, seagulls, common kingfishers, peregrine falcons, woodpeckers, northern pintails, and whistling teals.

### Water life

Some of the fish and amphibians found in the park are Sawfish, Butter Fish, Electric rays, Silver carp, Star Fish, Common Carp, King Crabs, Prawn, Shrimps, Gangetic Dolphins, Skipping Frogs, Common Toads and Tree Frogs.

### Reptiles

The Sundarbans National Park houses a large number of reptiles as well, including estuarine crocodiles, chameleons, monitor lizards, turtles, including Olive Ridley, hawksbill, and green turtles.  Snakes include pythons, King Cobras, rat snakes,  Russell's vipers, Dog Faced Water Snakes, Chequered Killbacks, and Common Kraits which includes Banded Krait, Lesser Black Krait and **Sind Krait.**

### Endangered species

The endangered species that live in the Sundarbans are Royal Bengal Tiger, Saltwater Crocodile, River Terrapin, Olive Ridley Turtle, Gangetic dolphin, Ground Turtle, Hawks Bill Turtle and Mangrove horseshoe crab.

## Ecosystem

In 2001, Sunderban became a Biosphere Reserve.  The ecosystem is recognized as part of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.

## Related pages

- List of World Heritage Sites in India

## Other websites

- Sundarbans National Park  India
- Official UNESCO website entry
- List of biosphere reserves which are wholly or partially world heritage sites
- 100 Most popular non-venomous snakes in the world
- Ball python morphs

## Infobox (unesco world heritage site)

- **child**: yes
- **criteria**: (ix), (x)
- **id**: 452
- **year**: 1987


## Infobox (protected area)

- **name**: Sunderban National Park
- **iucn category**: II
- **photo**: Sundarban Tiger.jpg
- **photo caption**: Tiger from Sunderban Tiger Reserve
- **map**: India West Bengal#India
- **map caption**: Location in West Bengal, India
- **relief**: yes
- **location**: South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India
- **nearest city**: Kolkata
- **established**: 1984
- **visitation ref**: Important Events :
1973 : Project Tiger
1977 : Wildlife Sanctuary
1984 : National Park
1987 : UNESCO World Heritage Site
1989 : Indian Biosphere Reserve
2001 : World Network of Biosphere Reserve (Man and Biosphere Reserve)
- **governing body**: Government of India