Women replant mangroves in Sundarbans after losing husbands to tiger attacks
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In the Sundarbans region of India, women who lost their husbands to tiger attacks are now working together to restore 100 hectares of degraded mangrove forest by planting one lakh (100,000) mangrove saplings.
Between 2016 and 2020, tigers killed 67 people in the Sundarbans, leaving many women widowed and facing social stigma and economic hardship. Some women have faced blame for their husbands’ deaths and abandonment by their families, adding to their difficulties.
These “tiger widows”, along with other local women in Jharkhali, are actively replanting mangroves, the same forests where their husbands died. Mangrove forests are vital to the Sundarbans because their roots protect villages from cyclones and waves, and they provide crucial habitat for fish, crabs, and the Royal Bengal tiger. The women’s work recognizes the interconnectedness of people, forests, and wildlife in the region.
By restoring the mangroves, they aim to strengthen the ecosystem that supports their communities and wildlife, and to prevent future tragedies. They hope to create a future where fewer women are labelled “tiger widows” and both people and wildlife can thrive.
