Editing Ganges Delta (section)

==Wildlife==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2013}}
[[Image:Panthera tigris.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bengal tiger]]]]
Three [[terrestrial ecoregion]]s cover the delta. The [[Lower Gangetic plains moist deciduous forests]] ecoregion covers most of the delta region, although the forests have mostly been cleared for agriculture and only small enclaves remain. Thick stands of tall grass, known as canebrakes, grow in wetter areas. The [[Sundarbans freshwater swamp forests]] ecoregion lies closer to the Bay of Bengal; this ecoregion is flooded with slightly [[brackish]] water during the dry season, and fresh water during the monsoon season. These forests, too, have been almost completely converted to intensive agriculture, with only {{convert|130|km2|sqmi}} of the  {{convert|14600|km2|sqmi}} protected. Where the delta meets the Bay of Bengal, [[Sundarbans mangroves]] form the world's largest [[mangrove]] ecoregion, covering an area of {{convert|20400|km2|sqmi}} in a chain of 54 islands. They derive their name from the predominant mangrove species, ''[[Heritiera]] fomes'', which are known locally as ''sundri'' or ''sundari''.

Animals in the delta include the Indian python (''[[Python molurus]]''), clouded leopard (''[[Neofelis nebulosa]]''), [[Indian elephant]] (''Elephas maximus indicus'') and [[crocodile]]s, which live in the Sundarbans. Approximately 1,020 endangered [[Bengal tiger]]s (''Panthera tigris tigris'') are believed to inhabit the Sundarbans. The Ganges–Brahmaputra basin has tropical deciduous forests that yield valuable timber: [[Shorea robusta|sal]], [[teak]], and [[peepal]] trees are found in these areas.

It is estimated that 30,000 [[chital]] (''Axis axis'') are in the Sundarbans part of the delta. Birds found in the delta include [[kingfisher]]s, [[eagle]]s, [[woodpecker]]s, the shalik (''[[common myna|Acridotheres tristis]]''), the [[swamp francolin]] (''Francolinus gularis''), and the doel (''[[Oriental magpie robin|Copsychus saularis]]''). Two species of dolphin can be found in the delta: the [[Irrawaddy dolphin]] (''Orcaella brevirostris'') and the [[Ganges and Indus river dolphin|Ganges river dolphin]] (''Platanista gangetica gangetica''). The Irrawaddy dolphin is an [[oceanic dolphin]] which enters the delta from the Bay of Bengal. The Ganges river dolphin is a true [[river dolphin]], but is extremely rare and considered [[endangered]].

Trees found in the delta include [[Heritiera littoralis|sundari]], garjan (''[[Rhizophora]]'' spp.), [[bamboo]], mangrove palm (''[[Nypa fruticans]]''), and mangrove date palm (''[[Phoenix paludosa]]'').