Bangladeshi police have arrested a notorious poacher wanted for 20 years and suspected of killing about 70 endangered Bengal tigers. Talukder’s hunting ground was the vast Sundarbans mangrove forest area straddling India and Bangladesh that is home to one of the world’s largest populations of Bengal tigers. Talukder, 50, started out collecting honey from wild bees in the forest and became known for his exploits hunting the big cats and evading arrest. “We equally respect him and are scared of him,” said Abdus Salam, a local honey hunter. According to the Bangladesh forest department, the Bengal tiger population fell from 440 in 2004 to a record low of 106 in 2015.

Source: The Guardian June 01, 2021 10:52 UTC