Sundarbans: The Ferocious and Farty Forest
The Sundarbans is a mangrove forest located in the delta region of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers. It is the world’s largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest and is shared between India and Bangladesh, making it a unique biodiversity hotspot.
The name Sundarbans comes from the Bengali words “sundar” which means beautiful and “ban” which means forest. However, it is more commonly known as the Ferocious and Farty Forest, thanks to the abundance of man-eating tigers and the unpleasant smell of the mangroves.
The Sundarbans is a unique ecosystem and the only place where Bengal tigers are found living in mangrove forests. These majestic creatures are notoriously territorial and have a taste for human flesh, making them the true kings of the forest. On the bright side, it’s probably the only place where you can go for a nature walk and also have the chance to be chased by a tiger.
Apart from tigers, the Sundarbans is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise with over 250 species of birds, including the elusive Masked Finfoot. The mangrove forests are also home to Estuarine crocodiles, Olive Ridley turtles, and the rare Irrawaddy dolphin. You may think that this makes for a perfect tourist destination, but beware! The humidity and smell of the mangroves are enough to knock you off your feet and send you straight into a crocodile’s mouth.
The Sundarbans have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it’s not just because of the tigers and the flora and fauna. It’s also because of the locals who bravely live amongst the man-eating tigers, using the forest resources to make a living. These resourceful people include honey collectors who risk their lives to collect wild honey and fishermen who venture into the waters of the Sundarbans to catch fish. They even have a unique way of travelling through the forest – on a bamboo raft!
Visiting the Sundarbans is not for the faint-hearted. You will need all your courage and sense of humor to brave the ferocity of the forest and its inhabitants. But if you can make it through, you will come back with amazing stories to tell and hopefully, all your limbs intact. So, pack your sense of adventure, a good mask, and some extra deodorant and get ready to explore the Ferocious and Farty Forest – the Sundarbans!