Five villages on alert as Royal Bengal Tiger spotted near Sharan­khola locality

Panic has gripped five villages in Sharan­khola upazila of Bagerhat district after a tiger reportedly strayed into a settlement from the Sundarbans. Forest officials are using drones to search paddy fields for the animal, while villagers have reduced their movement at night. Residents have reported pugmarks in rice fields and other locations, prompting forest guards and members of local tiger response and patrol groups to launch public awareness campaigns.

The tiger was reportedly spotted in the Sonatala area on Sunday night, 26 October, within a week of another reported sighting. Its current whereabouts remain unknown, raising concerns among residents living along the edge of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The presence of a tiger in Sonatala village, under Southkhali union of Sharan­khola, has caused fresh alarm. Pugmarks have reportedly been found in courtyards, gardens, paddy fields and on riverbanks.

Residents said a man spotted the animal on Saturday evening, 25 October, triggering concern across the area. Anxiety intensified the following morning when pugmarks were discovered at several locations.

It remains unclear whether the tiger is still hiding near the settlement or has returned to the forest. The Forest Department has deployed drones to help establish its location. Forest guards, members of the Village Tiger Response Team (VTRT) and the Community Patrol Group (CPG) are keeping watch in the area.

Mohammad Khalil Zomaddar, team leader of the Forest Department’s Community Patrol Group, said on Monday that residents had found scattered pugmarks near the home of Sarwar Howlader in East Sonatala and along the embankment of a fish enclosure belonging to Abu Razzaq Akon on the evening of 25 October.

Villagers immediately informed the Sundarbans authorities and members of the VTRT and CPG. In response, Mohammad Shariful Islam, assistant conservator of forests (ACF) and officer in charge of the Sharan­khola Range under the Sundarbans East Forest Division, visited the site with forest guards and members of the two groups. They found pugmarks suggesting that the tiger had moved through the area towards the paddy fields.

Five villages gripped by fear

Residents of five villages adjoining the Sundarbans—East Sonatala, West Sonatala, Panirghat, Model Bazar and Bakultala, all in Southkhali union—are living in fear. Some are afraid to leave their homes at night, while farmers and other residents say they feel unsafe working in paddy fields, gardens and cropland even during the day.

The lives and livelihoods of people in these forest-edge communities are closely tied to their natural surroundings. Residents must regularly travel to fields and other work sites to earn a living, but reports of a tiger in the settlement have disrupted their normal routines.

Resident says he saw tiger in torchlight

Khalil Zomaddar, a CPG member, said on Monday afternoon that Abdur Rab Howlader, a resident of West Sonatala, had reported seeing a tiger at around 10pm on Saturday while returning home. According to Howlader, the animal moved quickly towards a paddy field after his torchlight fell on it.

The following morning, farmer Sarwar Howlader reportedly found pugmarks while preparing to spray pesticide in his rice field. Frightened, he abandoned the work and returned home before informing villagers and members of the VTRT and CPG.

Members of the groups later inspected the area and found numerous pugmarks in paddy fields, courtyards and on riverbanks. Based on the reported trail, they suspect the tiger may have entered the settlement after crossing the Bhola River near the home of Abu Razzaq Akon in West Sonatala.

Pugmarks were subsequently found at various locations across an area stretching approximately 2.5 to 3 kilometres through Panirghat, Model Bazar and East Sonatala. Their distribution suggests that the animal may have moved through several parts of the area, although its precise route has not been confirmed.

Pugmarks found near homes and cattle sheds

Mohammad Ratan Khan, a resident of West Sonatala, said signs of a tiger’s movement had been found around the cattle shed at Shah Alam Howlader’s house. Pugmarks were also reportedly seen behind the kitchen of Asadul Howlader’s house in the Panirghat area.

The discoveries have heightened fears that the tiger may still be somewhere near the village. However, officials have yet to confirm its exact location.

Another reported sighting within a week

According to residents, a tiger entered the settlement on the morning of 19 October after swimming across the Bhola River. Reports of another appearance within days have renewed concerns among villagers.

Some residents suspect the animal may be venturing towards human settlements in search of food. However, there is no confirmed information establishing whether the same tiger was involved in both incidents.

The Sundarbans is one of the world’s most important habitats for tigers. Encounters between people and wildlife in communities bordering the forest pose a challenge both to residents’ safety and to tiger conservation.

Drone search and precautions across a 10km area

Mohammad Shariful Islam, assistant conservator of forests at the Sundarbans East Forest Division’s Sharan­khola Range, confirmed that pugmarks had been found in paddy fields. Their pattern and distribution suggest that the tiger may have moved through several locations, he said.

Forest guards, VTRT members and CPG personnel are working to establish the animal’s whereabouts. Drones are being used in the search, while public announcements are being made to alert residents. Special precautions are in place across an area extending approximately 10km along the forest edge.

Residents have been advised not to travel alone at night, to keep children safe and to take precautions to protect livestock. Authorities are continuing efforts to determine whether the tiger remains near the settlement or has returned to the forest.

Vigilance and coordination, not panic

Tiger sightings are not uncommon for communities bordering the Sundarbans. But when a tiger enters a settlement, it can threaten people’s safety, livelihoods and sense of security. Approaching, chasing or attempting to capture the animal without professional assistance could put both people and the tiger at risk.

Wildlife experts advise residents to maintain a safe distance and promptly inform the Forest Department if a tiger is spotted. Coordinated action by the local administration, forest officials and villagers is also essential to protect public safety.

Residents of the five villages in Sharan­khola share a common hope: that the tiger’s whereabouts will soon be established, people will remain safe, and the animal will not be harmed.

Ensuring the safe coexistence of people and wildlife remains a key responsibility for the authorities and communities concerned.