Sitesh Ranjan Deb
Sitesh Ranjan Deb (Bengali: সিতেশ রঞ্জন দেব), known locally as Sitesh Babu, is a former professional hunter in Bangladesh who is now a notable wildlife conservationist.[1]
Personal life
He grew up in a family that had been hunters, and in his youth, when hunting was not legally restricted, he himself was a professional hunter and wilderness guide.[2] However, his life changed in an accident in 1991 when he unexpectedly came face to face with a bear. He was injured severely, losing part of his face and right eye, before he managed to shoot the bear.[1][2][3] He quit hunting and focused on wildlife conservation.[1][4]
Zoo
Locally, wild animals and their habitat have rapidly diminished as an enlarging human population has led to deforestation, often illegally, for timber and firewood.[2] Even before he stopped hunting altogether he had developed a zoo[1] which has rescued, rehabilitated and freed more than 3,000 animals.[3][5][6][7] The zoo has hosted many rare animal species such as the first recorded Burmese ferret-badger in Bangladesh.[8] His work has been featured in numerous news articles.[2][9][10][11]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Shafiq Alam (September 6, 2010). "Reformed hunter battles to save Bangladesh's wildlife" (web). web. Sylhet: Agence France-Presse(AFP).
- 1 2 3 4 Dan Morrison (September 22, 2010). "The One-Eyed Hunter and the Albino Fishing Cat" (php web). National Geographic.
- 1 2 Al Jazeera Reporter (Oct 25, 2010). "From hunter to wildlife protector". Al Jazeera.
- ↑ Terra Daily Reporter (Sep 27, 2010). "Reformed hunter battles to save Bangladesh's wildlife". Terra Daily.
- ↑ Correspondent, Moulvibazar (June 17, 2011). "Back to wild life: releases of wildlife by Sitesh Ranjan" (web). Daily Star.
- ↑ Correspondent, Moulvibazar (January 4, 2013). "Releases of Wildlife: Have a different day at Sitesh Deb sanctuary" (web). Daily Star.
- ↑ Correspondent, Moulvibazar (April 15, 2011). "Releases of Wildlife: Celebrating Baishakh (1st day of Bengali Year) in a different way" (web). BDNews24.
- ↑ Islam MA, Chowdhury GW, Belant JL (October 2008). "First record of the Large-toothed Ferret Badger Melogale personata in Bangladesh" (PDF). IUCN/SSC Small Carnivore Specialist Group (SCSG).
- ↑ Anbarasan Ethirajan (November 3, 2011). "The former hunter saving Bangladesh's wildlife" (php web). BBC News.
- ↑ Daily Star Reporter (March 6, 2012). "Fishing cat, caught by locals" (php web). Daily Star News.
- ↑ Daily Star Reporter (May 3, 2011). "Python lays eggs at mini zoo". Daily Star.