Tiger attacks in the Sundarbans

The Sundarbans is the only place where a tiger bite can double as a headline, and you’ll quickly learn that the danger is not a marketing gimmick but a lived reality for the 100‑plus Bengal cats that patrol its mangrove maze. Most treks start at Godkhali on the West Bengal side; stay the night at the modest Government Guest House or, if you can afford a notch of comfort, the Sundarbini Resort near Kalash. The only legitimate way to see the tigers is a guided boat ride at low tide, usually departing between 0600 and 0800 from the ghats of Sajnekhali, where a rickety wooden platform offers a view of the infamous “Tiger Island” and, if you’re lucky, a prowling cat silhouetted against the sunrise. Do not, under any circumstance, hire an unlicensed guide or wander off the charted channels – the tidal swamps are deceptive, and locals will warn you that a missing wristwatch often means a tiger has made a meal of the owner. The attack rate varies wildly; official tallies range from zero to fifty deaths a year, but anecdotal reports suggest the figure climbs higher when illegal fishing expeditions go missing. Travel between November and February when the water recedes and visibility improves, but bring waterproof boots, a mosquito net, and a willingness to accept that a tiger sighting is a bonus, not a guarantee. Skip the over‑commercial “tiger‑watch” camps in the northern reserve – they offer little beyond canned safaris and inflated prices – and instead concentrate on the Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary’s interpretation centre, which, despite its modesty, provides the most reliable statistics and a sobering reminder that the Sundarbans’ biggest attraction is also its deadliest.

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