Spotted: Endangered leopard in Bangladesh
This undated handout photo released by the Bangladesh's Creative Conservation Alliance and obtained on June 26, 2025 shows a leopard at the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. - AFP
DHAKA: Photographs of a leopard snapped by camera traps in forests in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts have raised hopes among conservationists working to save the critically endangered species.
Bangladesh's Creative Conservation Alliance (CCA) issued pictures of the leopard emerging from lush green bush, celebrating the "evidence that these elusive big cats still persist" in the forested hills where Bangladesh borders India and Myanmar.
"We have to ensure the protection of the species so that it doesn't become extinct," CCA research officer Sourav Chakma told AFP on Thursday (June 26).
Leopards are listed as vulnerable as a species globally, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but critically endangered in the South Asian country of more than 170 million people, warning its population may no longer be viable.
Zoologist Monirul Khan, of Jahangirnagar University, said previous reports of the elusive cats had been based on paw prints and fleeting sightings in the forest.
"As an extremely rare and secretive species, the latest sighting is very significant", Khan said.
"It highlights the importance of the remaining natural forest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts as a reserve of wildlife habitat."
The predator was once widely seen in forested areas. Habitat loss, lack of prey and poaching are key contributors to the loss of leopards, experts say.
Bangladesh is also home to tigers, now found only in the vast Sundarbans mangrove forests that straddle the border with India.
On the Bangladesh side, the latest survey released in October 2024 recorded 125 tigers, up from 114 in 2019. - AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Simple comforts
SWEET potatoes are beloved across cultures because they are naturally sweet and rich in nutrients such as fibre, beta-carotene and vitamin C. Here are some delicious sweet potato recipes. Sweet potato stir-fry This simple stir-fry brings out the natural sweetness of the tuber while adding a savoury kick with soy sauce and garlic. Ingredients 2 medium sweet potatoes (cubed) 1 tablespoon oil 2 cloves garlic (minced) 1 tablespoon light soy sauce 1 teaspoon sesame oil Salt and pepper to taste Spring onion (for garnish) Instructions 1. Boil sweet potato cubes for 5–7 minutes until semi-soft. Drain. 2. In a wok, heat oil and saute garlic. 3. Add sweet potato, stir-fry for 3–4 minutes. 4. Season with soy sauce, sesame oil, salt and pepper. 5. Garnish with chopped spring onions before serving. Sweet potato curry This South Asian-inspired curry is creamy, aromatic and pairs well with rice or roti. Ingredients 2 sweet potatoes (peeled, cubed) 1 onion (chopped) 2 cloves garlic (minced) 1 teaspoon ginger paste 1 tablespoon curry powder 1 cup coconut milk 1 cup water Salt to taste Coriander leaves Instructions 1. Saute onion, garlic and ginger in a pot. 2. Add curry powder and cook until fragrant. 3. Add sweet potatoes, coconut milk and water. Simmer for 15–20 minutes. 4. Add salt and garnish with coriander before serving. Sweet potato patties These patties make perfect snacks or burger fillings. Ingredients 2 cups mashed sweet potato ¼ cup chopped onion ¼ cup breadcrumbs 1 egg Salt and pepper Oil for frying Instructions 1. Mix mashed potato with onion, breadcrumbs, egg, salt and pepper. 2. Form into small patties. 3. Shallow fry until golden brown on both sides. Serve hot with dipping sauce. Sweet potato chips Baked or air-fried, these chips are a healthy alternative to traditional crisps. Ingredients 1 large sweet potato (thinly sliced) 1 tablespoon olive oil Salt, pepper and paprika Instructions 1. Toss sweet potato slices with oil and seasoning. 2. Arrange on a baking tray in a single layer. 3. Bake at 180°C for 15–20 minutes, flipping halfway. 4. Cool and enjoy. Japanese sweet potato tempura This version highlights the unique texture of Japanese satsumaimo. Ingredients 1 Japanese sweet potato (thin rounds) ½ cup flour ½ cup cold water 1 egg Oil for deep-frying Instructions 1. Whisk flour, cold water and egg to form a tempura batter. 2. Dip sweet potato slices and deep-fry until lightly golden. 3. Drain excess oil on paper towels. Serve with tempura dipping sauce. Sweet potato balls (onde-onde style) Inspired by the Malaysian onde-onde, this treat features grated coconut and melted gula melaka inside. Ingredients 1 cup mashed sweet potato ½ cup glutinous rice flour Gula melaka cubes Grated coconut with pinch of salt Instructions 1. Combine mashed potato and flour to form a dough. 2. Wrap dough around small pieces of gula melaka. 3. Boil balls until they float. 4. Roll in salted grated coconut and serve warm. Sweet potato pudding A dessert that is satisfying and nutritious. Ingredients 2 cups mashed sweet potato ½ cup coconut milk 2 tablespoons brown sugar ½ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼teaspoon salt Instructions all ingredients in a saucepan. 2. Simmer gently until thickened, about 10 minutes. 3. Serve warm or chilled, topped with nuts or raisins. Sweet potato ice cream Perfect for hot days, this unique dessert blends the earthy sweetness of sweet potatoes with coconut milk for a rich, dairy-free ice cream. Ingredients 1 cup mashed sweet potato 1 cup full-fat coconut milk ¼ cup honey or maple syrup ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch of cinnamon Instructions 1. Blend all ingredients until smooth. 2. Pour into a container and freeze for at least 4–6 hours, stirring every hour for a soft-serve texture. 3. Let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before scooping. These recipes are proof that sweet potatoes can shine in every meal. So, go on, get creative and sweeten your next dish.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
India probing all angles in Air India crash, says minister
NEW DELHI: An Indian aviation minister on Sunday said investigators were probing "all angles" behind an Air India crash when asked by media about possible sabotage. All but one of the 242 people on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner were killed when it crashed in the western city of Ahmedabad on June 12. Authorities have identified 19 others who died on the ground, but a police source told AFP after the crash that the toll was 38. India's minister of state for civil aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, said the investigation was looking at "all angles" when asked specifically about possible "sabotage", in an interview with Indian news channel NDTV. "It has never happened before that both engines have shut off together," Mohol said earlier in the interview, in reference to theories by some experts of possible dual-engine failure. The minister added that until the investigation report is published, it would be premature to comment on the cause. The team appointed to investigate the crash started extracting data from the plane's cockpit voice and flight data recorders this week, in an attempt to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the disaster. Air India has said that the plane was "well-maintained" and that the pilots were accomplished flyers.-AFP
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
India plane crash probe looking at all angles: minister
NEW DELHI: An Indian aviation minister on Sunday said investigators were probing 'all angles' behind an Air India crash when asked by media about possible sabotage. All but one of the 242 people on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner were killed when it crashed in the western city of Ahmedabad on June 12. Authorities have identified 19 others who died on the ground, but a police source told AFP after the crash that the toll was 38. India's minister of state for civil aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, said the investigation was looking at 'all angles' when asked specifically about possible 'sabotage', in an interview with Indian news channel NDTV. 'It has never happened before that both engines have shut off together,' Mohol said earlier in the interview, in reference to theories by some experts of possible dual-engine failure. The minister added that until the investigation report is published, it would be premature to comment on the cause. The team appointed to investigate the crash started extracting data from the plane's cockpit voice and flight data recorders this week, in an attempt to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the disaster. Air India has said that the plane was 'well-maintained' and that the pilots were accomplished flyers.
