Char Kukri-Mukri Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife sanctuary in Bhola District, Bangladesh.
Char Kukri-Mukri Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area on an island in the Bay of Bengal, characterized by dense mangrove forests and waterlogged clay soil. The landscape remains partially submerged throughout the year, creating a specialized ecosystem adapted to tidal influences and brackish water.
Settlement on Char Kukri-Mukri began around 1930 under British rule. The 1970 Bhola cyclone swept away the island's entire human population; migrants returned in 1973–1974 and resumed fishing and cultivation. The Bangladesh Forest Department then began planting mangrove species, and on 19 December 1981 the area was declared a wildlife sanctuary under the 1947 Wildlife (Preservation) Amendment Act.
Islanders returned after the 1970 Bhola cyclone, resettling in 1973–1974 to fish and farm, and the Forest Department then planted mangroves around them. Six small khals or creeks cut through the sanctuary, and the island is also called Charfasson Wildlife Sanctuary.
Access to the island is easiest during the dry season when water levels are lower and paths are more passable. It is recommended to hire a local guide and bring waterproof gear and insect repellent for the visit.
The sanctuary's mudflats and creeks shelter all three monitor lizards of Bangladesh: the water monitor, the Bengal monitor and the yellow monitor. Birdwatchers also come for the spot-billed pelican, listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
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