The Sundarbans, nestled between India and Bangladesh, is the largest mangrove forest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My recent trip to the Bangladesh Sundarbans with my family and friends was nothing short of a life-changing experience. This extraordinary place isn't just a forest; it's a world teeming with vibrant life and an incredible example of coexistence between humans and nature. What I saw, learned, and experienced there will stay with me forever.

We started our trip from Dhaka, and it took us just over five hours to reach the 'TigerHouse' at WildTeam Conservation Biology Centre, at Joymoni, near Mongla, Bagerhat, where we were warmly welcomed by Dr Md. Anwarul Islam, CEO of WildTeam. There were many taxidermies and preserved specimens of different animals from around the Sundarbans at the museum of the TigerHouse. After a short break and refreshment, we were also presented with a demonstration conducted by the Village Tiger Response Team, VTRT, about how they protect the villagers from tiger attacks, when it strays into the village. When it comes to saving tigers and conserving wildlife around the Sundarbans these local volunteers are real heroes. They have dedicated their lives to this noble cause. For me, listening to their stories and seeing their courage up close was incredibly humbling. They in a way embody the delicate balance between humans and wildlife that defines the Sundarbans. We met the BaghBandhus - the friends of tigers and the TigerScouts and listened how they are involved in the tiger conservation in the Sundarbans. It was not easy to engage the local communities in tiger conservation, when their dear ones were taken over by tigers.

The next morning, we went on a boating excursion through the network of waterways that crisscrossed the Sundarbans. The beautiful sunrise and the morning lifestyle of the villagers contrasted with the constant hustle and bustle of city life. Professor Anwar guided us throughout the trip and gave us a lot of information about the humongous mangrove forest. I was astonished by the variety of flora and fauna and their different ways of survival instincts. There were a lot of 'Sundari' trees that are in fact the alveoli of the Sundarbans, which is itself like the lungs of Bangladesh and the broader South Asia region. The mangrove trees can reach incredible heights and have been providing the community with resources for daily living. However, the Sundari trees have been affected by an unknown top-dying disease, which made this plant species globally threatened. We took a stop at the Harbaria Ecotourism Center, which was located at the heart of the Sundarbans. The forest rangers showed us around the park and provided us with various information about the wildlife in the Sundarbans. The fresh pugmarks of tigers, calls of red jungle fowl and the crested serpent eagle and a variety of breathing roots attracted me most. It was a new experience to see how some of the mangrove species take oxygen through their breathing roots, the pneumatophores.

From the moment I stepped into the Sundarbans, I was surrounded by nature's wonders. One of my most memorable moments was watching a pair of brahminy kites glide effortlessly above the dense mangroves. Mischievous monkeys kept us entertained as they swung through the trees, and graceful spotted deer appeared now and then, hidden in the bushes. I was also fortunate enough to photograph a couple of Common Hoopoe, the last remaining members of a unique family of birds in the world called Upupidae. The bird dominates in the myths of Arabic, Greek, Persian, Egyptian and other societies. It is believed that a Hoopoe helped King Solomon to meet the queen of Sheba!

The waterways were alive with color and sound. White-throated and black-capped kingfishers, with their dazzling blue and orange feathers, dived skillfully for fish. I was amazed to see the white wagtail, continuously wagging its tail, and the common sandpiper, running all over the banks of the canals. I was doubly happy to know that they came from the Himalayas, which is my ancestral home too. The coucal or crow pheasant, perhaps the only non-parasitic cuckoo, took refuge inside the bush before I could take a better shot. I was lucky to take a picture of the dazzling iridescent purple sunbird. I even spotted monitor lizards basking on the muddy banks, with their prehistoric appearance adding to the forest's mystique.

In addition to all this, the highlight of my trip was learning about and feeling the invincible presence of the Bengal tiger. While I didn't see one in person, just knowing I was in their territory was thrilling. These majestic animals are fighting for survival, and the Sundarbans is their last refuge in the country.

Another life-changing lesson I learned was about how the villagers of the Sundarbans live in harmony with the forest, drawing their livelihoods from its resources. I saw firsthand how they fish, collect honey, and farm crabs. Life there isn't easy-the tides are unpredictable, and the forest can be unforgiving-but their resilience is awe-inspiring. The mangroves aren't just a source of livelihood; they're a lifeline, providing protection to the villagers against cyclones and other natural disasters. WildTeam, with the support from KfW and IUCN, built a museum and interpretation centre at their TigerHouse to tell the story of the Sundarbans and the communities, which is one of the best places to learn why people call the forest - Motherly Sundarbans. My cousins and I had a great time in its Kids Zone and had the opportunity to paint a tiger!

In conserving wildlife and raising awareness about the importance of the Sundarbans, the work being done by the WildTeam is truly inspiring. WildTeam team's dedication towards this noble cause left a lasting impression on me. Their efforts go beyond protecting tigers alone, they are ever effortful to ensure that the entire Sundarbans ecosystem thrives for the good of local communities and the broader region.

My trip to the Sundarbans helped me better understand the idea of coexistence, importance of conservation, and the resilience of nature and humanity. The Bengal tiger, the mangroves, the vibrant wildlife, and the hardworking communities deserve every ounce of respect and care we can offer. If we join hands and act together, we can ensure that the Sundarbans continues to be a wild and wonderful haven for generations to come.

Aayush Bhandari, an undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Arlington, USA. He could be reached at aayushb102@gmail.com