A fishing cat has been killed with a fish spear in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga. The animal tried to flee for its life, but the attacker drove the spear into its body and held it pinned for a long time. The spear was removed only once the animal was dead.

The incident took place at midday on Friday, 21 March, in Bottola para of Dhanyaghara village in Damurhuda upazila. A video of it spread on social media, drawing strong criticism.

Locals said Alamgir, son of Touhidul Fakir of Dhanyaghara village in Kurulgachhi union, had seen the fishing cat in the paddy field and around his home. He feared it might eat his ducks, so for several days he kept watch with a spear. On Friday afternoon, when the fishing cat, which had been hiding in the paddy field, came into the open, he speared it from behind. He then dragged the injured animal onto the road. The fishing cat struggled for a long time to survive, but it was held down firmly. Once it was dead, he left it there and walked away.

Shah Mohammad Farhad Hossain, member for ward 4 of Kurulgachhi union, said there was a paddy field beside Alamgir Fakir's home where wild animals moved about. "He did this out of a misunderstanding. He is a poor man, so let him be forgiven," he said.

Bakhtiar Hamid Bipul, founder of the Chuadanga environmental organisation Pankouri, said the fishing cat is a nearly endangered species that does no harm to people. "It was killed completely wrongfully. Such cruelty cannot be accepted. Action should be taken against the killer under the wildlife conservation law," he said.

He added: "We have run awareness activities in that area before, distributing leaflets and putting up posters. Even so, this happened, which is deeply saddening."

Damurhuda upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Tithi Mitra said: "I have informed the Forest Department. Killing the fishing cat was not right, and the necessary action will be taken."

Attempts to reach the accused, Alamgir, were unsuccessful.

Under the Wildlife (Conservation) Act 2012, killing any wild animal can bring up to one year in prison or a fine, or both.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.