health
January 26, 2026
Their husbands were killed by tigers. Now these women are restoring the big cat’s habitat
EDITOR’S NOTE: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action.
TL;DR
- Tiger widows in the Sundarbans, often ostracized and blamed for their husbands' deaths by tigers, are now part of a conservation project.
- The initiative involves restoring 100 hectares of mangrove forests by planting over 100,000 saplings.
- The restored mangroves serve as a natural defense against rising sea levels, storm surges, and cyclones, while also helping to combat increasing water salinity.
- The project aims to reduce human-tiger conflict by restoring habitat and potentially increasing fish populations, leading to better food resources for both humans and tigers.
- Women involved in the project are paid daily wages, providing them with a crucial source of income and aiding in their financial independence and community reintegration.
- This effort is part of Conservation International's broader 'Mountains to Mangrove' initiative focused on protecting and restoring forests across a large area facing significant climate change and deforestation challenges.