Media must help reduce conflict between tigers and people in the Sundarbans (commentary)

The Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, is a natural wonder that supports millions of people. It’s a shield against powerful storms and provides resources for countless families. But this vital ecosystem is in crisis, and we’re caught in a deadly paradox: as we try to protect ourselves, we’re losing tigers. This conflict is fueled, in part, by the very media that should be raising awareness, and outdated policies that fail to address the root of the problem.

This isn’t a new conflict. For centuries, tigers have been hunted for sport or killed in retaliation for human deaths. But things have gotten much worse in recent decades. From 1984 to 2000 alone, tigers killed an average of 24 people each year, while humans killed three tigers.

But is this really a ‘man-wild conflict’? The evidence suggests it’s more complicated than that. Tigers aren’t the ones starting the fight; their attacks are often self-defense against people encroaching on their territory, and on those who hunt them. Tragically, these magnificent creatures have lost half their home since the 1950s because of our activities.

The demand for tiger parts, driven by traditional beliefs and an illegal global market, fuels this crisis. A shocking 65% of locals surveyed believe in the supposed benefits of using tiger organs, and these products have been found in 14 countries. This is made worse by negative views of tigers in local communities, often shaped by media stories that portray them as villains rather than victims.

See related: Bangladesh tries fences to tackle growing human-tiger conflict in Sundarbans

Media outlets, instead of focusing on the root causes of this conflict – habitat loss, poaching, and illegal trade – often sensationalize tiger attacks. They paint a picture of bloodthirsty beasts preying on innocent humans, perpetuating fear and animosity towards these endangered creatures. This biased reporting not only endangers tigers but also hinders conservation efforts.

While the Bangladesh Government’s new Forest Conservation Act of 2023 is a step in the right direction, in acknowledging the consequences of legislative shortcomings, its success hinges on proper implementation and tackling the underlying issues. To truly save the tigers, we need a comprehensive plan that addresses the role of the media and builds upon this legal framework:

1. Stop poaching: Enforce laws against hunting tigers and end the illegal trade in their parts.
2. Change minds: Educate people about the importance of tigers, challenge negative stereotypes, and promote coexistence.
3. Create new opportunities: Help local communities find sustainable ways to earn a living without harming the forest or its wildlife.
4. Media responsibility: Hold media outlets accountable for their reporting. Encourage them to focus on conservation efforts, tigers’ ecological importance, and the human activities that threaten their survival.

The fate of the Sundarbans hangs in the balance. We can’t lose this precious ecosystem or its majestic apex predator. It’s time for urgent, coordinated action to protect people and tigers. We must learn to live harmoniously with nature, not try to dominate it. This includes recognizing the power of the media to shape our perceptions and using that power responsibly to foster coexistence alongside the effective implementation of new laws and policies. Our survival, and that of the royal Bengal tiger, depends on it.

Mafi Islam is a Bangladeshi journalist who formerly worked as a reporter and news anchor at Ekattor Television for six years. He has studied for a master’s in Media and Communication Studies at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and a Master’s in Media, Technology, and Society at the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences in Germany. He now works as a Research Assistant at DIPF/Leibniz Institute of Education Research and Education Information in Germany.

See all of Mongabay’s coverage of Bangladesh’s environment here.

Banner image: The Sundarbans is a key tiger habitat. Image by Kaushik Ghosh via PixaHive (Public domain).

See related coverage:

Bangladesh tries fences to tackle growing human-tiger conflict in Sundarbans

Citations:

Islam,, Md. Ziaul (2023): Are the Sundarbans mangrove forest management policies adequate to conserve wildlife species? In Biodivers Conserv 32 (14), pp. 4529–4550. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-023-02708-6.

Reza, A.H.M.A; Feeroz Mohammed; Islam, M. A (2002): Man-tiger interaction in the Bangladesh Sundarbans. Available online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291781234, checked on 1/19/2024.

Saif, Samia; Russell, Aal M.; Nodie, Sabiha I.; Inskip, Chloe; Lahann, Petra; Barlow, Adam et al. (2016): Local Usage of Tiger Parts and Its Role in Tiger Killing in the Bangladesh Sundarbans. In Human Dimensions of Wildlife 21 (2), pp. 95–110. DOI: 10.1080/10871209.2015.1107786.

Uddin, Nasir; Sam Enoch; Abishek Harihar; Rob S. A. Pickles; Alice C. Hughes (2023): Tigers at a crossroads: Shedding light on the role of Bangladesh in the illegal trade of this iconic big cat. In Conservation Science and Practice 5 (7), e12952. DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12952