Tracing the Tigers

A Scientific Field Expedition for Tiger DNA Sample Collection in the Sundarbans

Project Type: Wildlife Research & DNA Sample Collection
Location: Sundarbans, Bangladesh
Duration: Approximately 12 Days
International Research Team: 5 Scientists from South Korea
Local Partners: Bangladesh Forensic Department, Forest Department & Experienced Local Forest People
Logistics & Field Support: Iconic Ecotourism

 

Into the Sundarbans for Tiger Science

The Sundarbans is not only one of the world's most remarkable mangrove forests; it is also one of the most important remaining habitats of the Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris). Studying this elusive predator in such a complex tidal environment requires much more than conventional tourism or a short wildlife visit. It requires time, field knowledge, careful navigation, local expertise and the ability to work safely and efficiently inside a constantly changing wilderness.

 

“Tracing the Tigers” was a specialised scientific field expedition conducted in the Bangladesh Sundarbans to support the collection of biological samples associated with wild tigers. The expedition brought together an international team of five scientists from South Korea, representatives of the Bangladesh Forensic Department, Forest Department personnel, and a team of highly experienced local forest people familiar with the Sundarbans.

 

For approximately 12 days, the team worked deep inside the forest, moving through tidal waterways, forest channels and potential tiger habitats in search of suitable biological evidence that could contribute to DNA-based research.

 

Why Tiger DNA Matters

For a species as elusive as the tiger, direct observation is often difficult and can provide only limited information. Modern wildlife research can use biological traces left naturally in the environment—including hair and scat—to obtain genetic information without having to capture or physically handle the animal.

 

DNA obtained from such samples can potentially help researchers investigate individual identity, genetic characteristics, population structure, relatedness and other aspects of wildlife biology, depending on the quality of the sample and the analytical methods used. This makes the collection of reliable field samples particularly valuable in landscapes such as the Sundarbans, where dense mangrove vegetation, tidal waterways and large areas of inaccessible forest make conventional wildlife monitoring challenging.

 

The expedition therefore focused on locating naturally occurring tiger evidence, documenting the field locations and carefully collecting suitable samples for subsequent scientific analysis.

 

A Multidisciplinary Team in the Field

The expedition involved several groups working together toward a common scientific objective.The five South Korean scientists led the scientific fieldwork and sample-collection activities. Their work was supported by personnel from the Bangladesh Forensic Department, whose expertise was relevant to the biological and forensic aspects of the project.

 

The Bangladesh Forest Department provided essential institutional and field support, including forest access and security arrangements.Another important component of the expedition was a group of approximately 15 experienced local forest people. Many of them had spent 30–50 years travelling through and working in the Sundarbans. Their intimate knowledge of the forest, waterways, wildlife movement and changing field conditions provided valuable support during the expedition.

 

In a landscape where a channel can change, a familiar route can become inaccessible and wildlife signs can disappear quickly with tides and weather, such local ecological knowledge can be an important complement to scientific field methods.

 

Iconic Ecotourism: From Tourism Operator to Expedition Logistics Partner

For Iconic Ecotourism, this project represented a very different side of our work. We were not simply arranging a conventional Sundarbans tour. Iconic Ecotourism provided comprehensive logistical and field support for the approximately 12-day scientific expedition.

 

Our responsibilities included arranging:

● Accommodation and field logistics for the entire team

● Food and daily operational requirements

● Transportation and movement within the Sundarbans

● Access to selected field locations

● Local navigation and route planning

● Coordination with experienced local forest people

● Support for field discussions and planning

● English communication and interpretation between international researchers and local stakeholders

● Assistance in understanding local environmental and field conditions

● Coordination of location-based field activities

● A dedicated experienced Sundarbans guide from Iconic Ecotourism

Our role was to help connect the scientific requirements of the international research team with the realities of working inside the Sundarbans.

 

Following the Signs of a Hidden Predator

The central challenge of the expedition was simple to describe but difficult to execute: find reliable evidence of wild tigers in a vast tidal forest. The team searched suitable areas for naturally occurring biological traces, including tiger scat and hair. Field observations also included tiger tracks and other signs that could help researchers understand the presence and movement of tigers within the surveyed areas.

 

During the expedition, the team successfully located multiple tiger scat samples, including several that appeared sufficiently fresh for the researchers' field objectives. A number of tiger hair samples were also collected. Each useful field observation required careful attention to its surrounding environment. The team recorded relevant location information, including GPS coordinates, allowing samples and observations to be associated with their respective field locations.

 

For the scientists, these were not simply photographs or wildlife sightings. Each sample represented a potential piece of biological information that could contribute to a much larger scientific understanding of tiger populations.

 

Working in a Tidal Wilderness

Field research in the Sundarbans is fundamentally different from conducting research in a conventional terrestrial forest.The landscape is shaped by tides. Water levels change throughout the day, waterways connect and separate forest areas, and routes that appear accessible at one time may become difficult or impossible to navigate later. The expedition therefore required continuous coordination between the scientific team, local experts, boat crew, guides and other field personnel.

 

Iconic Ecotourism helped the researchers reach selected areas at appropriate times, understand local conditions and adapt field movements according to the environment. Our local knowledge was particularly important in identifying suitable routes and understanding the character of different forest areas. The objective was not simply to move through the forest, but to help the research team work efficiently within the ecological realities of the Sundarbans.

 

Where Scientific Knowledge Meets Local Knowledge

One of the most valuable aspects of the expedition was the interaction between international scientific knowledge and generations of local forest experience. The South Korean scientists arrived with specific research objectives and scientific methodologies. The local forest people brought decades of experience navigating the Sundarbans and recognising its subtle environmental and wildlife signs.

 

Iconic Ecotourism helped create a working bridge between these two forms of knowledge. During discussions and field activities, we assisted with English communication and interpretation where necessary, helping international researchers understand local observations, environmental conditions and practical field considerations.

 

This collaboration demonstrated an important principle of field research in the Sundarbans: scientific research becomes stronger when scientific methods are supported by responsible local knowledge and experience.

 

Documenting Evidence in the Field

The expedition generated a valuable visual record of the fieldwork. Photographs documented tiger scat samples, tiger tracks, field locations, researchers working inside the forest and different stages of the sampling process. These records help communicate what scientific fieldwork in the Sundarbans actually looks like: long hours on the water, careful movement through dense mangrove habitats, observation of wildlife signs, documentation of locations and continuous adaptation to the forest environment.

 

For Iconic Ecotourism, these photographs also form part of our own record of working alongside international researchers in one of the world's most challenging and important wildlife landscapes.

 

A Successful Scientific Expedition

After approximately 12 days in the Sundarbans, the expedition was successfully completed with the collection of multiple tiger-related biological samples, including scat and hair, along with associated field observations and GPS location records.The scientific team was able to complete its planned field activities with the support of the combined team of researchers, forensic personnel, Forest Department staff, experienced local forest people and Iconic Ecotourism.

 

For us, the success of the project was not measured simply by the number of samples collected. It was also about successfully creating the conditions in which an international scientific team could work safely, efficiently and meaningfully inside the Sundarbans.

 

Beyond Tourism: Supporting Science in the Sundarbans

At Iconic Ecotourism, we believe that the Sundarbans should not only be experienced—it should also be studied, understood and protected. Our experience with research expeditions, biodiversity surveys, wildlife projects, documentary production and filmmaking has given us a practical understanding of the logistical challenges involved in working inside the Sundarbans.

 

The Tracing the Tigers expedition is one example of how our local expertise can support international scientific teams. From arranging accommodation and meals to navigating remote waterways, coordinating local field experts, supporting communication and helping researchers reach appropriate field locations, our role was to provide the operational foundation that allowed the scientific team to focus on its research objectives.

 

A Shared Commitment to Understanding Tigers

The tiger remains one of the most important symbols of wild nature across Asia. International conservation efforts increasingly emphasize not only protecting individual animals, but also understanding populations, habitats, genetic diversity, ecological connectivity and the relationship between wildlife and people. IUCN describes tiger conservation as requiring cooperation among governments, conservation organizations, local communities and other partners.

 

The Tracing the Tigers expedition reflected this collaborative approach. Scientists travelled from South Korea to Bangladesh. Bangladesh's forensic and forest authorities contributed institutional and field support. Experienced people of the Sundarbans contributed their local knowledge. And Iconic Ecotourism provided the logistical bridge that brought these different capabilities together in the field. The result was more than a journey into the forest. It was a collaborative scientific expedition dedicated to understanding one of the world's most iconic wild animals.

 

Our Role in the Expedition

Iconic Ecotourism was responsible for comprehensive field logistics and expedition support, including:

‣ International Researcher Coordination: Supporting the visiting South Korean scientific team throughout their field stay.

‣ Field Logistics: Accommodation, meals, transportation, boat movement and day-to-day expedition requirements.

‣ Sundarbans Navigation: Helping the team move through complex tidal waterways and reach selected research locations.

‣ Local Knowledge Network: Coordinating experienced local forest people with decades of Sundarbans experience.

‣ Interpretation & Communication: Supporting English communication and interpretation between international researchers and local stakeholders.

‣ Wildlife Field Support: Assisting the research team in locating and documenting tiger signs and potential biological samples.

‣ GPS & Location Documentation: Supporting the recording of field locations associated with observations and collected samples.

‣ Dedicated Sundarbans Guide: Providing an experienced Iconic Ecotourism guide throughout the expedition.

 

Why This Project Matters to Iconic Ecotourism

Tracing the Tigers represents an important part of what we do differently. We do not see the Sundarbans simply as a tourism destination. We see it as a living laboratory, a globally important ecosystem and a landscape where responsible tourism, scientific research, conservation and local knowledge can work together. Our involvement in this expedition strengthened our experience in supporting international researchers, wildlife scientists, biodiversity projects and specialised field expeditions.

 

Today, this project stands among our past expeditions as an example of our ability to design and manage complex experiences beyond conventional tourism.

 

From wildlife researchers to filmmakers, conservationists to photographers—we help international teams reach the Sundarbans, understand its wilderness and carry out meaningful work in the field.