The forest, which spreads from Khulna district to South 24 Paraganas district of West Bengal, is home to the royal Bengal tiger.
Owing to the massive size of the Sundarbans, conducting a survey to count the wildlife was proving to be a challenge for both the countries.
As a result, both countries have decided to jointly conduct the survey.
"The two countries will start counting the tigers in their area first time. It will start from February. After that rain will disrupt the measure. So the second phase will start from October and the specimens will be collected in December," said Chief forest officer Rabikant Sinha.
Last week, a workshop on tiger census was organized at Gosaba, South 24 Parganas, for the forest officers of India and Bangladesh. During the workshop, which was also attended by Divisional forest officers of Bangladesh, officers changed the old methods of conducting the tiger census.
The traditional method of counting tigers using their footmarks was replaced with a new technology, including digital camera, infrared rays and sensors.
The forest officials will rely on the presence of the tiger's prey in the forest to track their location. The officials will also collect tigers' stool samples, their scratching mark, etc. to determine their location and numbers. Recommended By Colombia
Tiger counting has already started at Satkhira. We hope we will get the numbers till September. After Satkhira counting will start at Khulna, Sarankhola and Chandpai, said director of tiger counting project of Bangladesh Amir Hasan Chowdhury.
The exercise is expected to be complete by 2019, he added, reports The Time of India.
As per a 2015 census conducted by Bangladesh, there were 106 Royal Bengal tigers, a sharp dip from 440 tigers in 2004. On the Indian side of the Sundarbans, there are 103 Royal Bengal tigers - 22 in South 24 paraganas and 81 from Sundarban Tiger Reserve Forest.
