Sundarbans National Park
🇮🇳 India
🐯 Swimming Tigers in the Mangrove MazeSundarbans 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
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Tiger
Panthera tigris
★ 
Saltwater Crocodile
Crocodylus porosus
★ 
Collared Kingfisher
Todiramphus chloris
📊 Most Spotted
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
Axis Deer
Axis axis
Common Water Monitor
Varanus salvator
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
Indian Pond Heron
Ardeola grayii
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
Pearl-necked Dove
Spilopelia chinensis
Rhesus Macaque
Macaca mulatta
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Eurasian Curlew
Numenius arquata
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Axis Deer
Axis axis
Rhesus Macaque
Macaca mulatta
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Jungle Cat
Felis chaus
Fishing Cat
Prionailurus viverrinus
Irrawaddy Dolphin
Orcaella brevirostris
Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat
Cynopterus sphinx
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
Indian Pond Heron
Ardeola grayii
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
Pearl-necked Dove
Spilopelia chinensis
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Eurasian Curlew
Numenius arquata
Common Redshank
Tringa totanus
Striated Heron
Butorides striata
Asian Green Bee-eater
Merops orientalis
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Common Water Monitor
Varanus salvator
Spot-tailed Pitviper
Trimeresurus erythrurus
Common Batagur
Batagur baska
Oriental Garden Lizard
Calotes versicolor
Chequered Keelback
Fowlea piscator
King Cobra
Ophiophagus hannah
Dhaman
Ptyas mucosa
Golden Tree Snake
Chrysopelea ornata
Rainbow Mud Snake
Enhydris enhydris
Cat-eyed Fishing Snake
Gerarda prevostiana
Khorat Blind Snake
Indotyphlops braminus
Variable Coloured Vine Snake
Ahaetulla anomala
Recent sightings in Sundarbans National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Tiger Tracking & Boat Safaris
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.
3Saltwater Crocodile Nesting
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.
2Mangrove Avian Congregations
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.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Tiger Tracking & Boat Safaris
- 2Mangrove Avian Congregations
- 3Saltwater Crocodile Nesting
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
The many shades of nature That’s the mouth of the estuary emptying itself into the Bay of Bengal While we did not spot a tiger (we missed it by a whisker), we were all awestruck by nature’s beauty and also the extent to which life goes to adapt itself to a particular environment.
The birds were far away, but we did see collared kingfishers (hadn’t seen those before), night herons, white-throated kingfishers (state bird of West Bengal), and others.
As the sun light diminished,we could sight spotted deers, Eurasian Curlew,Sand Pipers, Greater egrets,Ospreys, Monitor lizard basking in the sun totally camouflaged, Brahminy Kite, Eurasian collared dove, and Perigrene falcons engaged in hunting.
Eager for a raw and immersive experience, I chose to stay amidst the thick forests, longing to hear the symphony of crickets, the calls of exotic birds, and perhaps even catch a glimpse of the majestic tiger.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Sundarbans National Park?
The most likely sightings are Collared Kingfisher (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Saltwater Crocodile (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Common Sandpiper (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Axis Deer (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Common Water Monitor (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers) — among 780 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Sundarbans National Park for wildlife?
July has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Tiger in Sundarbans National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Tiger sighting in Sundarbans National Park, based on 15 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Saltwater Crocodile in Sundarbans National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Saltwater Crocodile sighting in Sundarbans National Park, based on 44 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Collared Kingfisher in Sundarbans National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Collared Kingfisher sighting in Sundarbans National Park, based on 2,682 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
Very goodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
ExcellentHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
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