SAVING THE SUNDARBANS

Women are on a mission to restore the delta's unique ecosystem by planting more mangrove trees. They hope it would bring down the rising tiger attacks and improve fish stocks

- RABI BANERJEE

Sarojini Mondal, 55, of Lahiripur island in the Sundarbans is worried about her sons, and her family’s future. After her husband’s death, her two sons have moved to south India, where they work as casual labourers.

Three years ago, her husband, Sambhu, went fishing in the Sundarbans, one of the largest deltas in the world. Sambhu and his neighbour Radhakanta ignored official warnings and ventured deep into the mangrove forest. Crabs from deep in the Sundarbans—where boats do not ply and banks are muddier during the low tide—are much soughtafter, often selling for up to ₹1,500 per kilogram. With the Sundarbans turning increasingly dry because of global warming, they probably did not have any other option. Unfortunately for them, it is an area increasingly frequented by the Bengal tiger. Long after they had crossed the danger line marked by the forest department, they were attacked by a tiger. Radhakanta, who tried to fight back with a stick, was carried away by the tiger. His body was never found. Sambhu, who was profusely bleeding, managed to row back to the village. A few hours later, however, he succumbed to injuries.