As the Cyclone Remal hit Bangladesh's coastal areas last evening, particularly the Sundarbans, loss of life in the wildlife is feared. However, another crisis follows in the wake of the cyclone - salinity.
The world’s largest mangrove forest was hit by 5-8 feet-high tidal surges when Cyclone Remal hit Bangladesh’s southwest coast on 26 May evening at a speed of 120 kilometres per hour.
“The swelling of creeks and canals exceeded the normal high tide level significantly. In such circumstances, wildlife on the forest is severely affected,” Khulna Division Forest Conservator Mihir Kumar Doe told Bangladesh First.
Although many parts of the 10,000 square kilometres Sundarbans, intersected by multiple tidal streams–get flooded twice a day, such a catastrophe commonly flashes out the animals foraging on forest beds and contaminates freshwater sources with saline water.
Mihir said the tidal surges, breaching the ridges of ponds, inundated almost all of the freshwater ponds inside the forests.
Over a hundred freshwater ponds, the only source of drinking water for wild animals and the remotely working forest guards, have been contaminated with saline water.
While Cyclone Remal has not been as devastating as 2007’s Cyclone; the damage assessment, particularly on the wildlife, would take time unless an inside investigation is done.
“The weather condition is still very bad. We have been struggling to enter into the deep forest,” Mihir said.
Karamjal Eco Park is considerably elevated land inside the forest. When it has been inundated, as news media reported with photographs, forest experts assume the extent of the flooded forest bed.
Mangrove forest and wildlife expert Professor Abdullah Harun Chowdhury expressed his concern over the short-term and long-term safety issues of Sundarbans wildlife.
“Tidal surges certainly affect the wild animals, especially the Bengal Tigers, Spotted Deer and Wild Boars,” Harun said.
He added that only the animals could take shelter on a few artificial tilas (plinths for sheltering wild animals in times of flooding) that may have been protected.
“The Forest Department should increase them in numbers,” he said.
However, Professor Abdullah Harun Chowdhury expressed his concern about the freshwater crisis in the forest because restoration of the water sources in the shortest time is very challenging.
According to him, the freshwater-depended wild animals will certainly suffer from a water crisis and they may experience multiple diseases.
“If monsoon delays, the water ponds would harvest rainwater in June. Thirsty wild animals cannot survive till then. So, I would recommend quick desalination of the pond water,” Harun concluded.
Like a fort protecting a kingdom, Sundarbans last year braced cyclones Amphan and Midhili.
Earlier in 2007, 2009, 2019, and 2021, the mangrove forest protected thousands of people living in neighbouring areas from cyclones like Sidr, Aila, Yaash, and Bulbul.
