Wildlife of Bangladesh
Encyclopedia
The wildlife of Bangladesh includes Bangladesh
's flora
and fauna
and their natural habitats.The dhole is an animal which is on the verge of extinction.
The majority of the human population lives in or around large cities and this has helped to limit deforestation to some extent. However, the growth rate continues to increase at an alarming rate and this has placed large demands on the environment
and lead to subsequent clearing of numerous natural habitats. Though several areas are protected under law, a large portion of Bangladeshi wildlife is threatened by this growth.
Bangladesh is home to roughly 22 species of amphibian
, 17 species of marine reptile
s, 109 species of reptile
, 388 species of birds, 110 species of mammals and 3 species of marine mammals. In addition to the large bird
count, a further 240 species
of migratory birds swell bird numbers each year. The vast majority of these creatures currently dwell in an area of land that is some 150 000 sq kilometers in size! This is a remarkable achievement to say the least. However this does not mean all is well with the country’s natural heritage
. So far a number of creatures have disappeared completely from the country and a further 201 species are threatened. The dhole
, Asiatic wild dog is now endangered by habitat and preying species loss and human persecution. Notable species that have disappeared from Bangladesh are the one-horned Rhinoceros, the two-horned Rhinoceros, the Gaur
, the Banteng
, Hog deer
and swamp deer, Indian Wolf
, marsh crocodile and wild buffalo
. Generally,such a large loss will usually effect the environment to a greater or lesser degree and result in environmental imbalances.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
's flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
and their natural habitats.The dhole is an animal which is on the verge of extinction.
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
and lead to subsequent clearing of numerous natural habitats. Though several areas are protected under law, a large portion of Bangladeshi wildlife is threatened by this growth.
Bangladesh is home to roughly 22 species of amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
, 17 species of marine reptile
Marine reptile
Marine reptiles are reptiles which have become secondarily adapted for an aquatic or semi-aquatic life in a marine environment.The earliest marine reptiles arose in the Permian period during the Paleozoic era...
s, 109 species of reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
, 388 species of birds, 110 species of mammals and 3 species of marine mammals. In addition to the large bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
count, a further 240 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of migratory birds swell bird numbers each year. The vast majority of these creatures currently dwell in an area of land that is some 150 000 sq kilometers in size! This is a remarkable achievement to say the least. However this does not mean all is well with the country’s natural heritage
Natural heritage
Natural heritage is the legacy of natural objects and intangible attributes encompassing the countryside and natural environment, including flora and fauna, scientifically known as biodiversity, and geology and landforms ....
. So far a number of creatures have disappeared completely from the country and a further 201 species are threatened. The dhole
Dhole
The dhole is a species of canid native to South and Southeast Asia. It is the only extant member of the genus Cuon, which differs from Canis by the reduced number of molars and greater number of teats...
, Asiatic wild dog is now endangered by habitat and preying species loss and human persecution. Notable species that have disappeared from Bangladesh are the one-horned Rhinoceros, the two-horned Rhinoceros, the Gaur
Gaur
The gaur , also called Indian bison, is a large bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986 as the population decline in parts of the species' range is likely to be well over 70% over the last three generations...
, the Banteng
Banteng
The banteng , also known as tembadau, is a species of wild cattle found in Southeast Asia.Banteng have been domesticated in several places in Southeast Asia, and there are around 1.5 million domestic banteng, which are called Bali cattle. These animals are used as working animals and for their meat...
, Hog deer
Hog Deer
The Hog Deer is a small deer whose habitat ranges from Pakistan, through northern India, to mainland southeast Asia...
and swamp deer, Indian Wolf
Indian Wolf
Indian wolf and Iranian Wolf are two common names for Canis lupus pallipes, a subspecies of grey wolf which inhabits western India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and southern Israel. Some experts have suggested at least some C. lupus pallipes populations be re-classified a canid species...
, marsh crocodile and wild buffalo
Water Buffalo
The water buffalo or domestic Asian water buffalo is a large bovine animal, frequently used as livestock in southern Asia, and also widely in South America, southern Europe, northern Africa, and elsewhere....
. Generally,such a large loss will usually effect the environment to a greater or lesser degree and result in environmental imbalances.