Villagers beat tiger cub to death in Bagerhat

The villagers in Morrelganj of Bagerhat have shown no mercy to a young tiger which lost its way and entered the locality where the people felt threatened by the presence of the 'unwelcomed royal.'

Bagerhat Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 23 Jan 2018, 06:25 PM
Updated : 23 Jan 2018, 06:31 PM

The locals ganged up, encircled the tiger cub and beat it to death. The 6ft 4inch long cub was only two years and four months old, local forest official Mahmudul Hassan said.

The incident took place at Gulishakhali village in Nishanbarhi union on Tuesday, according to Union Parishad Chairman Abdur Rahim Bachchu.

The villagers said a number of people at Gulishakhali village were injured in the attack by the tiger. They were being treated at the Khulna Medical College hospital.

The locals killed this tiger cub in fear of attack at Morrelganj in Bagerhat after it lost its way and entered the locality on Tuesday. Photo: mehedi hasan

UP Chairman Rahim told bdnews24.com, "One Tuku Dalal was going to paddy field with his son Masum around 7am when the tiger cub attacked Masum. Tuku screamed for help when the villagers came and rescue Masum."

Rahim said five others were also injured in the attack.

Later, the forest guards at Gulishakhali camp and the villagers beat the tiger to death, he said.

"I heard that a tiger has been killed by the villagers after they were attacked. The forest department workers brought the dead tiger to Mongla Animal Resource office for autopsy," forestry official Mahmudul said.

The body of the young tiger beaten to death by the locals at Morrelganj in Bagerhat is being taken to Mongla Animal Resource Centre on Tuesday.

He said the tiger cub probably came to the locality sometime on Monday night as the water level in Bhola River went down.

A five-strong investigation committee has been formed with Assistant Forest Reserve Officer of Sundarbans (North) Sadar Range Mehdi Zaman as its head to look into the incident.

The Wild Life (Preservation) Act stipulates maximum seven years of prison term and also Tk 1 million in fines for killing tiger and elephant. The law, however, exempts killing in self-defence.