Bangladesh is one of the most densely-populated nations on Earth, with a population density of 3,441 people per square mile, similar to the city of Atlanta. Its 175 million people live in an area about the size of a single state — Arkansas, which has only 3 million people.
So researchers have long predicted that many animal and plant species there would go extinct due to habitat loss and competition with humans for scarce resources.
Yet happily, some species are making a comeback there. Olive Ridley turtles are growing in number, reports Mongabay:
This year, Bangladesh has seen its highest number of olive ridley turtle eggs, thanks to extensive conservation actions, including building awareness among local people and the vigilance of local conservation groups to ensure favorable conditions for the species.
Nature Conservation Management found 12,425 eggs in five turtle hatcheries — Pachar Island, Shilkali Island, Shahpari Island, Matharbunia, and Shonadia Island in Cox’s Bazar district — through April 17 this year.
The number of eggs has increased by almost 53% compared with the previous year, from 8,096 to 12,425. Those tallies represent a significant jump from the 4,713 eggs recorded in 2020-2021 and 5,763 in 2022-23….Olive ridley turtles usually hatch from November to April. At this time, in the dark of night, the mother turtle comes to the house (nesting ground) made in the sand on the beach and returns to the sea with eggs….The olive ridley’s main nesting ground is different islands of the country’s southeastern district, Cox’s Bazar, in the Bay of Bengal.
An Asian antelope declared extinct in Bangladesh is making a comeback, too. They are reappearing in northwestern Bangladesh, where they were declared locally extinct 90 years ago due to habitat loss and hunting.
Florida’s population has risen over the last quarter century, even faster than Bangladesh’s population. Florida’s population has grown from 16 million in 2000 to 23 million in 2024. Many had thought that this rising population would lead to species loss. Yet Florida’s manatee population has rebounded. Sea turtles are multiplying in Florida, with sea turtle nests tripling.
Bangladesh’s population has risen from 129 million to 175 million since 2000, a slightly slower rate of increase than Florida’s. But Florida is much less dense than Bangladesh — Florida is the eighth-most densely populated state.
