They arrested poacher who killed 70 Bengal tigers in Bangladesh – on the run for 20 years

Bangladeshi police arrested a poacher wanted for 20 years and who is credited with killing around 70 Bengal tigers, an endangered species.

Habib Talukder, nicknamed “Bagh Shikari” (tiger hunter), who it was legendary in the south of the country, was arrested by police over the weekend.

The 50-year-old hunter was difficult to catch because he lived on the edge of the forest where he went whenever the police raidedsaid this Monday to AFP the local police chief, Saidur Rahman.

“We tried to corner him for a long time. A tip finally got us there and sent him to jail, ”the officer said.

Bagh Shikari had chosen as his hunting ground the Sunderban mangroves, which covers more than 10,000 square kilometers and is home to one of the largest populations of Bengal tigers in the world.

The poacher started his career collecting honey in the forest before hunting the big cat whose skin, bones and even meat are sold at a high price on the black market.

“We respect him as much as we fear him,” said Abdus Salam, a beekeeper. “He is a dangerous man capable of fighting alone with mum (the tiger) in the forest.“.

Hunting has severely depleted the tiger population. Bangladesh’s forestry department had only 106 Bengal tigers in 2015, up from 440 in 2004. By 2019, the population had grown to 114 thanks to a strong crackdown on hunters.

For the regional forest conservator, Mainuddin Khan, the arrest of the famous hunter is a relief. “It gave us serious headaches. It was a great threat to the biodiversity of the forestSaid Khan.

(With information from AFP)

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