The 'Hero of Kotka' will die in 2014
I saw this date palm at Kotka beach of Sundarban at first during November 2008. It
was just one year after the hurricane Sidre hit the southern part of
Bangladesh. The hurricane Sidre hit
on 15th November midnight in
2007 in the coastal districts of Bangladesh - particularly Khulna and Barisal while crossing from northern Bay
of Bengal. The tidal surge of 15-16 feet high
and strong winds of 260 KM per hour made mass disaster for over 14 hours of
strike.
The 'Hero of Kotka' in November 2008
Amazingly, this date palm was strong enough to survive from that huge
hurricane. I was astonished to see the plant standing there like a real hero. Although there were hundreds and thousands of Sundari
and other non-palm plant that were devastatingly laid down on the forest floor by the hurricane. I
gave a name to this date palm - 'the Hero
of Kotka'. Even the old branches of the plant were could not be removed by the hurricane Sidre.
The 'Hero of Kotka' at its'death bed during December 2013
Last week, during mid December in 2013, we visited Kotka of Sundarban again where the date plant lived. This time it was really
sad and heartbreaking episode for me to see the date plant again. I felt, the plant is on its' death bed and ultimately it will die very soon. There were only one or two mid leafs of the plant alive.
During the last five years, the sea has come forward toward north at least 250~300 feet. The date palm could not tolerate the saline water during the regular tidal waves from the sea. In fact, global climate has been really changed and sequentially sea level is gaining altitude continuously. In case of Bangladesh, the Bay of Bengal has advanced about 250~300 ft towards north and ultimately death is the final destination of this date palm.
During the last five years, the sea has come forward toward north at least 250~300 feet. The date palm could not tolerate the saline water during the regular tidal waves from the sea. In fact, global climate has been really changed and sequentially sea level is gaining altitude continuously. In case of Bangladesh, the Bay of Bengal has advanced about 250~300 ft towards north and ultimately death is the final destination of this date palm.
We are not sure, what are
the other changes and challenges awaiting for us due to global climate change.
