Dolphin conservationists save tigers in Bangladesh

A team of young Bangladeshi conservationists supported by the Conservation Leadership Program and Save Our Species have stopped a fire raging across an area of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh, threatening species and habitat vital to wildlife.

Usually more accustomed to marine conservation, the team focuses much of their efforts on conserving two threatened species of dolphin, the conservationists-turned-firemen found themselves more concerned with terrestrial habitat when fire recently broke out in the Sundarbans.

As an extra curricular activity, it’s not uncommon for team members to take groups of tourists out to learn about the Sundarbans landscape and wildlife. It was during one such trip in the forest the team were called into action by forest department officials to help stop an accidental fire, presumed to have been started by a discarded cigarette butt.

The Sundarbans are home to countless numbers of threatened species including the Endangered Royal Bengal tiger, a national animal of Bangladesh. Habitat loss is one of the major threats to the Bengal tiger, having lost up to 50% of its habitat across Asia.

This incident demonstrates the need for initiatives like the Conservation Leadership Program, that promote the development of future conservation leaders whilst providing capacity to address the most significant conservation issues of our time. Skills like this are saving lives and habitats the world over.

The Conservation Leadership Programme is a partnership of four conservation organisations –Fauna & Flora International, BirdLife International, Conservation International and the Wildlife Conservation Society.