Tigers in Bangladesh's southern Sundarban mangrove forest have killed six workers, a report said Monday.
The mutilated bodies of the victims were recovered at the weekend following two attacks by Royal Bengal tigers on December 21 and 22 in the Paikgacha area of frontier Bagerhat district, the Banglar Bani daily reported, quoting survivors.
The report did not specify how many tigers were involved in the attacks on the six victims aged between 18 and 40, but said local forest officials had confirmed the incidents.
Sundarban forest on the coast of the Bay of Bengal is home to the endangered tigers.
Hundreds of workers come from neighboring districts and go deep into the jungles under forest department licenses to collect house-building materials, logs and honey.
In May, seven people, mostly illegal poachers and timber collectors, were killed in the forest, which is listed as a world heritage site.
Hunting of majestic Royal Bengal tigers, which number just 500, has been banned since they were listed as an endangered species. But poachers still kill the tigers for their valuable skins -- DHAKA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)