Context: According to the West Bengal Forest Department, the latest estimation of tiger numbers in the Indian Sundarbans  indicate an increase in the population of big cats, that is the count for the year 2019-20 rose to 96, from 88 in 2018-19.
Key Points

• The Sunderban mangrove forest is spread over 2,585 sq. km and includes the Sundarban Tiger Reserve and the 24 Parganas (South) Division. 
• While 23 tigers were found in 24 Parganas (South) Division, 73 big cats tigers were recorded inside the four divisions of the Sunderban Tiger Reserve.

About Sunderbans

• It is vast contiguous mangrove forest ecosystem in the coastal region of Bay of Bengal spread across India and Bangladesh.
• It covers approximately 10,000 square kilometres of area of which 60% is in Bangladesh and remaining in India.
• It is home to rare and globally threatened species, such as the Northern River Terrapin, Royal Bengal Tiger, Irrawaddy Dolphin, and the Fishing Cat.
• It is located in delta region of Padma, Meghna and Brahmaputra river basins.
• It is the largest tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world.
• It was recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
• It is the 27th Ramsar Site in India, and with an area of 4,23,000 hectares is now the largest protected wetland in the country.
• Sundarbans forests are known for Royal Bengal Tiger and other numerous species of animals, including Chital Deer, Crocodile and Snakes.
• It is facing threat from climate change and rise in sea level.
• It also faces threat from widespread construction and clearing of mangrove forests for fisheries.

About Bengal tiger (Panthera Tigris Tigris) 

• It is national animal of India and Bangladesh. It found predominantly in India with some populations in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China and Myanmar. 
• Initiatives by India: As Bengal tiger species is the most numerous of all tiger subspecies (about 2,500 left in wild) Indian government undertakes various initiave to in a bid to conserve species. 
• The Project Tiger launched in 1973 was India’s first-ever tiger conservation programme.
• Their IUCN Red List Status is endangered.