Tiger kills another fisherman

147 killed in attacks in last 9 years
Our Correspondent, Satkhira

A fisherman was killed by tiger yesterday in Bibikhali area of the river Malanchi in the Sundarbans.

Kashem Ali Gazi, 55, son of Manik Gazi of village Patakhali in Shyamnagar upazila fell victim to attack when he along with others was catching fish in the river.

Fishermen who witnessed the incident said the tiger dragged Kashem into deep forest. They later recovered the body in the evening.

On Thursday, tiger killed fisherman Manda Bagchi, 45, of Munshiganj village in Kaliganj upazila.

Around 150 people were killed in tiger attacks while at least 19 tigers were killed by villagers in the adjoining areas of Sundarbans in last nine years.

According to the forestry officials, tigers killed at least 147 people, including bawalies, villagers and forest staff members, since June 2001. Of them, 18 were killed in the east range while 129 in the west range of the forest.

On the other hand, villagers killed 12 tigers in the east range while seven in the west range during the same period, the officials said.

Forestry officials said tigers enter localities and attack the villagers because of drying up of the rivers and canals, dearth of food and frequent natural calamity.

DFO of the East Range Mihir Kumar Dho said he urged the villagers not to kill the tigers and inform officials if the tigers enter their areas from the forest.

The Daily Star, 21 july, 2009