Bangladesh 'extremely worried' over low male tiger population

A lower-than-expected population of male Bengal tigers in world's largest mangrove forest has sparked fears about long-term viability of endangered species in Banglesh, officials said on Tuesday.

A poaching crackdown by authorities in Bangleshi part of Sundarbans mangroves saw an increase in big cat population from 106 to 114 four years ago, according to a census published in May.

But closer analysis of data found number of male tigers was lower than typical ratio of one male for every three tigresses, with figure w at one male for every five females, officials said.

"We are extremely worried. standard ratio should be one male for every three female tigers," Jahidul Kabir, government's conservator of forest wildlife, told AFP.

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"In Sharonkhola range, we found only two males against 19 female tigers," he said, ding future of tiger population in Sundarbans could be at stake if forest continues to lose male tigers.

Authorities are planning to capture male tigers from or parts of forest and introduce m in Sharonkhola range, which is densest tiger habitat in mangroves.

census was conducted on 1,656 square kilometres (640 square miles) of forest last year and used camera traps to count big cats.

Sundarbans, which also strdle parts of eastern India, is home to some rare flora and fauna including Irrawdy dolphins and Bengal tigers, both declared endangered because of poaching and loss of habitat.

Alarm bells rang in 2015 when a census found that only 106 tigers were living in forest, less than a quarter of 440-strong population in 2004.

Since 2015 findings, authorities have undertaken a series of measures to boost number of Bengal tigers in forest -- one of world's last remaining wild habitats for big cats.

As part of measures, size of wildlife sanctuary in forest was more than doubled. An elite security force launched a major crackdown against pirates-turned-poachers active in forest.

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Monirul Khan, a zoology professor and a tiger expert at state-run Jahangirnagar University, said he believed poaching was behind low male tiger numbers.

" doubt this is a worrying trend. And possible reason is poaching," Khan said.

"Male tigers are aggressive and y cover bigger territory, which make m vulnerable to poaching."