• Tiger Population estimation:
  The first All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) published by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 2008 did not report tiger numbers from Sundarbans in the absence of a camera trapping exercise. WWF-India helped in developing an appropriate camera trapping methodology in 2011 in collaboration with the West Bengal Forest Directorate. This method was formally notified by NTCA in 2012 as the Monitoring Protocol for the Sundarbans.
• West Sundarbans Wildlife Sanctuary:
  The presence of 20 tigers in the 24 Parganas (South) Forest Division was established using camera traps for the first time in 2013. This facilitated the creation of the largest sanctuary in the Sundarbans: the West Sundarbans Wildlife Sanctuary.

We have mapped the rivers of West Bengal to assess habitat suitability for gharials and river dolphins, in partnership with forest and transport directorates. In collaboration with the government partners, we will identify critical rivers for reconnection and rejuvenation.

We work closely with state directorates and departments to demonstrate appropriate infrastructure for sustainable development. The Irrigation and Waterways Department has amended its manual to incorporate the demonstrated Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for the protection of banks and embankments in the Sundarbans. Building on our experience of retrofitting diesel-powered three-wheelers with electric propulsion systems, we have demonstrated electrification of diesel-powered small watercrafts. The Non-conventional & Renewable Energy Sources (NRES) Department, Government of West Bengal, is keen to promote electric watercrafts in the Sundarbans and is collaborating with WWF-India to enable wider adoption of electric propulsion systems.

We use a multi-layered approach to prevent and manage human-wildlife conflict in the Sundarbans Delta.

• Prokriti Bondhu (Friends of Nature): Our organization started the Prokriti Bondhu initiative in 2022. This is a cadre of local volunteers in forest-fringe villages and along rivers who serve as the first responders during wildlife emergencies and as conservation ambassadors within their communities. These volunteers act as the main sources for crowd-sourced information on aquatic species and critical, real-time insights from the field.
• Behaviour Shift: The collection of wild shrimp seed not only caused significant ecological damage due to high bycatch but also exposed forest-fringe communities to the risk of human–wildlife conflict. We worked closely with the Fisheries Directorate and aquafarmer groups to promote and demonstrate Better Management Practices (BMPs), including the use of PCR-tested hatchery-produced shrimp post-larvae (seed), improved pond preparation and water exchange, and responsible feed management in aquafarms that were primarily dependent on wild-caught shrimp seeds. As aquafarmers gained confidence in the quality and reliability of hatchery-produced post-larvae, demand for wild-caught seed from the Sundarbans declined. This transition has reduced disease incidence and crop losses, significantly lowered bycatch, and contributed to a decline in human–wildlife conflict.
• De-risking Livelihoods: Dependence on natural resources often intensifies in the aftermath of extreme climate events, leading to a rise in human–wildlife conflict. Paddy agriculture is adversely affected for several years in case of saltwater incursion during storms. We have reintroduced the Talmugur paddy variety, which has helped farmers meet subsistence needs despite recurring storms. Early efforts have ensured that Talmugur paddy is available in local markets, strengthening climate resilience at the community level.