Sitesh Ranjan Deb | |
---|---|
সিতেশ রঞ্জন দেব | |
Nationality | Bangladeshi |
Occupation | Wildlife conservationist |
Sitesh Ranjan Deb (known as Sitesh Babu), is a former professional hunter in Bangladesh who is now a notable wildlife conservationist. [1]
Deb 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]
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]
Sitesh Ranjan Deb | |
---|---|
সিতেশ রঞ্জন দেব | |
Nationality | Bangladeshi |
Occupation | Wildlife conservationist |
Sitesh Ranjan Deb (known as Sitesh Babu), is a former professional hunter in Bangladesh who is now a notable wildlife conservationist. [1]
Deb 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]
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]