Indian national park launches eco-tourism drive

A new eco-tourism campaign has been launched at Sunderban National Park in the West Bengal region of India as part of a drive to reduce the amount of litter at the site.

Pradeep Vyas, director of the Sunderban Biosphere Reserve, has called on tourists to be more responsible while they soak up the natural wonders at the Unesco World Heritage Site.

He has also urged non-governmental groups and tour operators, as well as boat and lodge owners, to join forces to keep the vast area free of rubbish.

He said: "We want to end irresponsible tourism and promote eco-tourism in the Sunderbans. Unless we adopt these practices, the Sunderbans will be over-run by waste plastic."

Travel enthusiasts can take part in wildlife and safari tours at the site, which spans 4,264 sq km. It sits on top of the largest delta in the world, that was created by the combined forces of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers.

The Sunderbans is also the biggest national park in India, and contains many species of wildlife from exotic birds that nest among the huge mangrove forest, to tigers and other land mammals.