Photo: Tayon Siddique, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Karamjal Wildlife Centre
About Karamjal Wildlife Centre
Inside the Karamjal visitor site near Mongla, the Forest Department runs a breeding centre focused on the animals of the Sundarbans. It is the best place to understand the forest’s wildlife before heading deeper in, especially if you are travelling with children.
The best-known work here is with saltwater crocodiles: you can see hatchlings and young crocodiles in pools, alongside the adults used for breeding, and learn how young animals are released into the wild. The centre has also been involved in breeding the critically endangered river terrapin. Spotted deer live in a large enclosure, and wild rhesus monkeys roam freely around the paths.
Some visitors find enclosures less exciting than wild sightings, so treat this as an introduction rather than the main event. Like the rest of the forest it closes for three months in the monsoon, usually June to August. Evergreen Bangladesh Tours visits the centre on private day trips from Mongla with a local guide, often combined with the boardwalk at Karamjal and, on longer trips, Harbaria.
Things to do
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Crocodile breeding pools
See saltwater crocodiles at different ages, from small hatchlings to large breeding adults.
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Spotted deer enclosure
Watch Sundarbans spotted deer at close range, good for photos and for children.
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Learn about conservation
Your guide can explain how the forest’s wildlife is protected and how captive-bred animals are returned to the wild.
Getting there
From Mongla: a short boat ride to the Karamjal jetty; the centre is a few minutes’ walk inside.
From Khulna: about an hour by road to Mongla, then the boat.
Where to stay
Stay in Khulna for the widest choice of hotels, or in Mongla to be close to the boats.
Tours that visit Karamjal Wildlife Centre
Short Tours
Sundarbans Mangrove & Wildlife Expedition
from $500 per person
Questions
Is the Wildlife Centre the same as Karamjal?
Yes, it is part of the Karamjal visitor site. This page focuses on the breeding centre and its animals.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. The crocodile pools and deer enclosure are close to the jetty, and the walk is short and flat.
When is it open?
Outside the Sundarbans monsoon closure, usually June to August. Check opening hours locally.
Will I see wild animals as well?
Wild rhesus monkeys are almost always around, and birds are common along the river.