Sundarbans honey collector hospitalised after tiger pounces from thicket

Family says the victim is undergoing surgery with deep wounds across his body

A honey collector has been left seriously injured following a tiger attack while gathering honey in the Sundarbans.

Other honey collectors rescued the man from the forest and brought him back to the locality at 7am on Monday, said Fazlul Haque, officer of the Burigoalini Forest Station in Satkhira Range.

The victim, 48-year-old Bablu Gazi, had been attacked by a tiger near the Payratuni canal of the Kachhikata range at 8am on Sunday.

He is now undergoing treatment at Satkhira Medical College Hospital, where doctors and family members say his condition remains critical.

Honey collector Md Emdad Hossain said a group of collectors led by boatman Yusuf Gazi had entered the canal area in the morning to harvest honey.

At one stage, a Royal Bengal Tiger suddenly leapt out from behind bushes and attacked Bablu, leaving severe injuries on different parts of his body.

"The tiger retreated into the jungle when everyone started shouting and rushed forward with sticks," Emdad added. "We then recovered Bablu in a bloodied state."

The victim’s father Malek Gazi said they were working together when the predator struck.

"By the grace of Allah, he is still alive," he said, noting that his son suffered several deep gashes.

Bablu was given initial treatment near the forest before being rushed to the hospital, where he was undergoing surgery as of 1:30pm on Monday, he added.

Honey collector Emdad said forest-dependent people work under constant risk while collecting honey in the Sundarbans, where fear of tiger attacks remains part of daily life.

Station officer Fazlul said despite safety guidelines issued by the Forest Department, such incidents continue to occur in the mangroves.