Sundarbans National Park

🇮🇳 India

🐯 Swimming Tigers in the Mangrove Maze
🌍 #79 Global · 4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #11 in Asia #5 in Wetlands & Mangrove
Indian Subcontinent, India 780 spp. recorded

Sundarbans National Park is a massive mangrove forest situated in the delta region of the Indian subcontinent, where vast tidal waterways divide dense thickets of salt-tolerant trees. Unlike traditional dryland reserves, this wetland labyrinth floods and drains with the ocean tides, creating an ever-shifting coastal maze of mudflats and branching channels.

21.955° N   88.866° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare 5–15%
With luck 15–40%
Possible 40–70%
Likely >70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Tiger ★
EN

Tiger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Panthera tigris

40–50% · Likely
Saltwater Crocodile ★
LC

Saltwater Crocodile

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Crocodylus porosus

80–90% · Very likely
Collared Kingfisher ★
LC

Collared Kingfisher

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Todiramphus chloris

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Sandpiper
LC

Common Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actitis hypoleucos

70–80% · Very likely
Common Water Monitor
LC

Common Water Monitor

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Varanus salvator

70–80% · Very likely
Axis Deer
LC

Axis Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Axis axis

70–80% · Very likely
Whimbrel
LC

Whimbrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius phaeopus

70–80% · Very likely
Common Kingfisher
LC

Common Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alcedo atthis

70–80% · Very likely
Indian Pond Heron
LC

Indian Pond Heron

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Ardeola grayii

70–80% · Very likely
Little Egret
LC

Little Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta garzetta

70–80% · Likely
White-throated Kingfisher
LC

White-throated Kingfisher

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Halcyon smyrnensis

60–70% · Likely
Pearl-necked Dove
LC

Pearl-necked Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spilopelia chinensis

60–70% · Likely
Rhesus Macaque
LC

Rhesus Macaque

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Macaca mulatta

60–70% · Likely
Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

60–70% · Likely
Eurasian Curlew
NT

Eurasian Curlew

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius arquata

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Tiger ★
EN

Tiger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Panthera tigris

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Axis Deer
LC

Axis Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Axis axis

70–80% · Very likely
Rhesus Macaque
LC

Rhesus Macaque

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Macaca mulatta

60–70% · Likely
Jungle Cat
LC

Jungle Cat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Felis chaus

40–50% · Likely
Fishing Cat
VU

Fishing Cat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Prionailurus viverrinus

Insufficient data
Irrawaddy Dolphin
EN

Irrawaddy Dolphin

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Orcaella brevirostris

Insufficient data
Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat
LC

Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cynopterus sphinx

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Collared Kingfisher ★
LC

Collared Kingfisher

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Todiramphus chloris

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Sandpiper
LC

Common Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actitis hypoleucos

70–80% · Very likely
Whimbrel
LC

Whimbrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius phaeopus

70–80% · Very likely
Common Kingfisher
LC

Common Kingfisher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alcedo atthis

70–80% · Very likely
Indian Pond Heron
LC

Indian Pond Heron

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Ardeola grayii

70–80% · Very likely
Little Egret
LC

Little Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta garzetta

70–80% · Likely
White-throated Kingfisher
LC

White-throated Kingfisher

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Halcyon smyrnensis

60–70% · Likely
Pearl-necked Dove
LC

Pearl-necked Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spilopelia chinensis

60–70% · Likely
Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

60–70% · Likely
Eurasian Curlew
NT

Eurasian Curlew

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius arquata

60–70% · Likely
Common Redshank
LC

Common Redshank

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa totanus

50–60% · Likely
Striated Heron
LC

Striated Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Butorides striata

50–60% · Likely
Asian Green Bee-eater
LC

Asian Green Bee-eater

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Merops orientalis

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Saltwater Crocodile ★
LC

Saltwater Crocodile

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Crocodylus porosus

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Water Monitor
LC

Common Water Monitor

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Varanus salvator

70–80% · Very likely
Spot-tailed Pitviper
LC

Spot-tailed Pitviper

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trimeresurus erythrurus

40–50% · Likely
Oriental Garden Lizard
LC

Oriental Garden Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Calotes versicolor

Insufficient data
Common Batagur
CR

Common Batagur

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Batagur baska

Insufficient data
King Cobra
VU

King Cobra

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ophiophagus hannah

Insufficient data
Chequered Keelback
LC

Chequered Keelback

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Fowlea piscator

Insufficient data
Dhaman
LC

Dhaman

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ptyas mucosa

Insufficient data
Golden Tree Snake
LC

Golden Tree Snake

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Chrysopelea ornata

Insufficient data
Cat-eyed Fishing Snake
LC

Cat-eyed Fishing Snake

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Gerarda prevostiana

Insufficient data
Rainbow Mud Snake
LC

Rainbow Mud Snake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Enhydris enhydris

Insufficient data
Khorat Blind Snake
LC

Khorat Blind Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Indotyphlops braminus

Insufficient data
Variable Coloured Vine Snake
LC

Variable Coloured Vine Snake

Reptile

Ahaetulla anomala

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Common Indian Toad
LC

Common Indian Toad

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Duttaphrynus melanostictus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Tiger Tracking & Boat Safaris

FebMarJulAug

Tigers swim between islands during low tide, often leaving pugmarks on mudflats or swimming with prey. Boat safaris navigate tidal channels to observe these behaviors from a safe distance.

Tiger
EN

Tiger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Panthera tigris

40–50% · Likely
🦎

Saltwater Crocodile Nesting

JanDec

During winter, female saltwater crocodiles excavate nests in sandy riverbanks or mangrove islands. Hatchlings emerge in April-May, with adults guarding nests from predators like monitor lizards.

Saltwater Crocodile
LC

Saltwater Crocodile

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Crocodylus porosus

80–90% · Very likely
🐦

Mangrove Avian Congregations

JulNov

Monsoon and post-monsoon months trigger mass nesting of waterbirds in mangrove canopies and mudflats. Tidal rhythms concentrate thousands of wading birds feeding on exposed invertebrates.

Whimbrel
LC

Whimbrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius phaeopus

70–80% · Very likely
Little Egret
LC

Little Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta garzetta

70–80% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
Tiger
30–40
50–60
60–70
30–40
30–40
40–50
70–80
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
20–30
Saltwater Crocodile
90–100
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
80–90
60–70
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
Collared Kingfisher
60–70
70–80
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
90–100
80–90
70–80
70–80
Common Sandpiper
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
Common Water Monitor
40–50
60–70
70–80
70–80
40–50
50–60
80–90
70–80
70–80
50–60
40–50
80–90
Axis Deer
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
70–80
70–80
Whimbrel
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
80–90
80–90
60–70
80–90
70–80
Common Kingfisher
80–90
70–80
70–80
50–60
70–80
60–70
80–90
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
Indian Pond Heron
70–80
80–90
70–80
50–60
70–80
60–70
80–90
40–50
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
Little Egret
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
80–90
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
White-throated Kingfisher
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
90–100
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
Pearl-necked Dove
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
90–100
70–80
70–80
60–70
40–50
40–50
Rhesus Macaque
70–80
60–70
40–50
70–80
40–50
70–80
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
40–50
70–80
Great Egret
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
80–90
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
Eurasian Curlew
50–60
60–70
50–60
30–40
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
40–50
70–80
60–70
Animal Events
🦌 Tiger Tracking & Boat Safaris
🦎 Saltwater Crocodile Nesting
🐦 Mangrove Avian Congregations

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🐯 Swimming Tigers in the Mangrove Maze

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
527
🐒 Mammals
107
🦎 Reptiles
124
🐸 Amphibians
22
780 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
59 Threatened 5 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
73%
📊
Coverage (131 species at ≥5% of 780 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
17%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (8 bird, 2 reptile, 2 mammal)
47% Global avg
67%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
132 Global avg
105
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
14 Global avg
11
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
37
⚖️

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