West Bengal has 2 designated tiger reserve.
1. Buxa Tiger Reserve
- Buxa Tiger Reserve is located in the Alipurduar Sub-division of Jalpaiguri District, in the state of West Bengal, India.
- It lies in the Gangetic Plains with the Himalayas bordering it.
- The northern boundary of Buxa Tiger Reserve runs along the international border with Bhutan. The Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary of Bhutan is contiguous to the north of Buxa Tiger Reserve.
- The Buxa Tiger Reserve is serves as an international corridor for Asian elephant migration between India and Bhutan.
- The reserve is famous for the ruins of the historic Buxa Fort, which was once used as a detention camp during the Indian independence movement.
- Buxa was famous for dolomite mining.
- In 1983, Buxa Tiger Reserve was established. It is the 15th tiger reserve of India.
- In 1992, Buxa Tiger Reserve was declared as a National Park.
- Area: The reserve covers an area of approximately 760 square kilometers (293 square miles).
- Core/Critical Tiger Habitat : 390.58 sq km
- Buffer : 370.29 sq km
- Total : 760.87 sq km
- Hills: The tiger reserve is situated in the Buxa Hills. The Sinchula hill range lies all along the northern side of the tiger reserve.
- Buxa Hills
- Sinchula Hill Range
- River: Some of the rivers and streams that flow through reserve include:
- Sankosh River
- Raidak River
- Jayanti River
- Churnia River
- Turturi River
- Phashkhawa River
- Dima River
- Nonani River
- Tribe: Dukpa tribe is one of the most ancient groups in the region.
- Dukpa Tribe
- Flora: Sal Tree, Bamboo, Teak, Simul Tree, Kusum Tree, Mahua Tree, Orchids etc.
- Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Sloth Bear, Fishing Cat, Hyaena, Marbled Cat, Golden Cat, Elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Hill Myna, Crested Serpent Eagle, Great Indian Hornbill, King Cobra, Russel’s Viper etc.
- The Rajabhatkhawa Vulture Breeding Center, located in the vicinity of Buxa Tiger Reserve. It was established with the aim of breeding and conserving the endangered Indian vultures.
2. Sunderban Tiger Reserve
- Sundarbans Tiger Reserve is located in the coastal districts of West Bengal, i.e. South 24- Parganas and part in North 24-Parganas (Arbesi Block only).
- It is situated in the Sundarbans delta, formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers.
- The Sundarbans Tiger Reserve is bound on the east by the international boundary with Bangladesh.
- In 1973, the Sunderban was designated as a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger.
- In 1977, the Sundarbans Reserve Forest was designated as a wildlife sanctuary.
- In 1984, Sundarbans Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a National Park.
- In 1987, Sundarbans National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- In 1989, Sunderbans declared as a biosphere reserve by government of India
- In 2001, UNESCO designated the Sunderbans as a UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
- In 2019, Sunderban Wetland was recognized as the Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
- Area: The Sunderbans Tiger Reserve covers an area of approximately 2,585 square kilometers.
- Core/Critical Tiger Habitat : 1699.62 sq km
- Buffer Area : 885.27
- Total Area : 2584.89
- River: The Sundarbans Tiger Reserve is traversed by several rivers, including:
- Ganges River (Hooghly River)
- Matla River
- Bidyadhari River
- Raimangal River
- Harinbhanga River
- Flora: Mangroves (Sundar, Gewa, Goran, Keora etc.), Shrubs (Nypa palm etc.), Non-Halophytic Non-Mangrove Associates (Indian almond, Indian rosewood etc.), Halophytic Herbs, Shrubs, Weeds, and Epiphytes etc.
- Fauna: Tiger, Fishing Cat, Gangetic Dolphin, Irrawady Dolphin, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Estuarine Crocodile, King Cobra, Water Monitor Lizard, Olive Ridley, Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle etc.