The national animal of Bangladesh is the Bengal tiger. This iconic and imposing predator is one of the animals for which this region of the world is most well-known, and it is an important national symbol of power, courage, and strength. They are the east Asian equivalent of the lion as king of the beasts in Bangladeshi culture.
The Bengal tiger is one of the biggest and most powerful land predators on Earth, and they have not failed to capture the imaginations of people all around the world.
It is not surprising, then, that they have become so important to Bangladeshi culture that they are still found in the wild.
Let’s find out more.
What is the national animal of Bangladesh?
The national animal of Bangladesh is the Bengal tiger.
These tigers are very important national symbols for a variety of reasons that I will get into, but broadly speaking even across the whole world Bengal tigers are considered “charismatic megafauna”.
These are large animals that hold symbolic and cultural significance whether to one specific group or simply to humanity in general, and certainly both can be said of the Bengal tiger.
Historically, they had a much wider range though naturally many factors now threaten their continued existence.
They covered the Indus River valley until the 19th Century, with populations being found in almost all of India, Pakistan, in the south of Nepal, as well as in Bhutan, China, and of course Bangladesh.
Today these tigers are found in India, Bangladesh, southwest China, and Bhutan, as well as in Nepal.
They have the classic yellow to light orange coat with dark black or brown stripes.
They have a white belly and interior limbs, and the tail continues to be orange with black rings.
White Bengal tigers are often reported, these being recessive mutants—though not an example of albinism.
They are generally between 72-83 inches long in males and 65-76 inches in females.
They usually stand between 35-43 inches tall at the shoulder.
In Bangladesh, they are now relegated to the forests of the Sundarbans and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
They swim between islands in the delta to hunt prey and more mangrove territories are being raised by the Forest Department to provide more spaces for the animals to live.
They are typically solitary animals except for females raising their young. Sometimes, adults will congregate around an abundance of food but they are generally solitary hunters.
Why, then, are they the Bengali national animal?
Why is the Bengal tiger the national animal of Bangladesh?
On one level, the Bengal tiger is a symbolic representation of many important features of Bengali values.
They are of course symbols of power and bravery, given that they are very strong and they are apex predators which need fear nothing in nature except perhaps us.
They are, though, also important symbols of intelligence and sharpness of mind; they are keen and resourceful hunters who can make the best of a very bad situation.
Of course, historically, the Bengal tiger has also been very important to Bangladesh.
Much as the lion is considered “king of the beasts” in Africa and parts of Europe, the tiger holds that title in Bangladesh.
They are the kings of the jungle and the most powerful beasts to be found in the places they live.
Another important reason for the selection of the Bengal tiger as the national animal is one of conservation.
It’s often a factor that influences the choice of national animal.
Tigers are uniquely threatened in many ways as we will get into, and so making it the national animal is just one way that the country can lead conservation efforts to protect the species’ numbers.
Are Bengal tigers aggressive?
Bengal tigers are generally not a species that likes to bother humans.
They tend to avoid human contact where possible and will certainly not seek out conflict with people.
That said, though, they are obviously still solitary predators, and thus if they feel threatened in their territory or you somehow corner them, you can expect things to be over pretty quickly.
Bengal tigers, then, are somewhat like bears and unlike leopards.
Bears are very dangerous but they will not actively hunt people; leopards, on the other hand, are still very dangerous but will often seek out humans.
Tigers are dangerous but will avoid humans where they can.
Are Bengal tigers endangered?
Bengal tigers are unfortunately critically endangered and their population numbers have been threatened by many factors including the loss of their habitat and poaching.
They are popular trophy animals to hunt and it’s often said their bodies hold unique medicinal properties.
Conservation efforts will start with protecting and increasing the habitats in which they can live and taking efforts to prevent poaching and hunting.
Numbers have in some regions at least to some extent bounced back from where they once were, and so there is hope for the future, but these animals are at very serious risk in the near future.
While they are certainly under threat, then, they have the capacity to bounce back and conservation efforts are more than underway.
They are one of the most iconic Bangladeshi symbols.
These tigers are some of the most impressive and striking animals in the world, and it is easy to understand why they should be called the king of the beasts here; lions may be impressive, but tigers are the king in this part of the world.