Flora and Fauna

The tropical climate, abundance of water and bright sunshine have given Bangladesh a varied plant life and made it luxuriant in vegetation. The villages practically remain hidden in the thick groves of mango, jackfruit, bamboo, banana, betelnut, coconut, palm, date and many others trees that grow abundantly here and there in the country. Herbs and shrubs are found agalore. forests cover about 17 percent of the land area. Most of the Hilly regions are covered with forests. The largest forest is the Sundarban which is the largest continuous block of mangrove forest in the world provides sanctuary to the famous Royal Bengal Tiger.

Luxuriant vegetation, green forests, innumerable rivers, marshes and the long stretch of coastline have made Bangladesh a land of natural beauty. The country is the home of about 200 species of mammals. most of the hilly regions are covered with deep forests. Elephants are found in the forests of Chittagong Hill Tracts. Six types of Deer are seen in the Hill Tracts and the Sundarban. Among the bovine animals Buffalo, Ox, and Bison are commonly seen. Tere are about 150 species of reptiles. More than 700 species of birds are seen in the country. They include crow, cuckoos, bulbul, piegeon, sparrow, hawks, owl, maina, quail, kingfisher, hornbill, woodpeckers, duck, goose, gulls, crane, and doyel (Magpie Robin) -the national bird of Bangladesh.

About 200 species of sea and fresh water fishes are available in the country which proves the saying "Machey-Bhatey Bengali" (Bengali with Rice and Fish).