The Sundarbans is considered one of the most complex and most delicate ecosystems in the world. The mangroves are home to 334 plant species, 49 mammalian species, 59 reptilian species, 210 white fish species, 24 shrimp species, 14 crab species, 43 mollusks species, and around 260 bird species. These include endangered species such as the Royal Bengal tiger, the Irawaddy dolphin, the Indian python, and the estuarine crocodile. Virtually all flora and fauna in the Sundarbans is being threatened by global climate change. Every topic discussed in the “Global” section contributes to a loss of biodiversity in the forest. Deforestation and salinification destroy sources of both food and shelter for plants and animals (deforestation also literally wiping out plant species). Extreme weather and unpreparedness for natural disasters leave animals who just as vulnerable as humans, a sad truth often overlooked by human communities. In addition to these topics, however, other processes are killing off species of all kinds and contributing to the loss of biodiversity in the Sundarbans. Pollution from tourism has increased exponentially as the Sundarbans become a more popular site for environmentally-curious vacationers.
Noise pollution and light pollution from cargo ships that pass through the Sundarbans rivers daily disrupt animal routines and frighten them into hiding. Oil spills and bilge water disposal are contaminating the water that marine life rely on for survival. The prawn industry is encouraging a monoculture in the Sundarbans, only cultivating the one species of tiger prawn that is desirable in the global market. The process in which prawn seeds are collected, using giant nets that are dragged either by hand or by boat, results in a huge amount of by-catch caught and left for dead. By-catch is everything caught in a net other than the desired product (in this case, tiger prawn seed). Dolphins have been known to get caught in these nets, and, without destroying the entire net, there is virtually no way to untangle the animal before it suffocates. By-catch is one example of exploitation of resources that is contributing to the loss of biodiversity. Honey collectors that go into the forest use fire to smoke the bees out of their hives and will often take the entire hive off of its anchor to collect the honey, destroying the bee’s homes and potentially losing control of the fire and burning vegetation that they don’t intend to. Islanders are forced to extract more resources than ever before to keep up with the increasing demand for Sundarbans products, such as prawns and honey. Illegal tiger poaching has been an issue in the Sundarbans since British Colonization, as tiger skins sell for extremely high amounts in black markets. With trends continuing the way they are now, the Sundarbans will lose its unique and beautiful wealth of biodiversity before humans have time to catch up.
