‘Friend of Wildlife’ Sitesh Ranjan Deb dies

Sitesh Ranjan Deb, a genuine friend of wildlife has died. A shadow of grief has descended upon the demise of this nature lover and crusader-a man who provided sanctuary to injured wild animals.

Shitesh Ranjan Deb-Chairman of the Bangladesh Wildlife Service Foundation in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, and a renowned animal and nature enthusiast died on Tuesday following cardiac arrest. He was 81.

According to family sources, he had been ill and undergoing treatment at his residence on Ramakrishna Mission Road in Sreemangal for the past few days. When his condition deteriorated, he was taken to Sreemangal Poly Clinic, where the attending physician declared him dead. He is survived by three sons, four daughters-in-law, four daughters, and grandchildren, along with numerous admirers, relatives, and well-wishers.

For a long time, Sitesh Ranjan Deb rescued thousands of wild animals-whether injured, sick, or captured by people-and provided them with medical treatment.
Ultimately, he released them into their natural habitats. He personally nursed countless sick animals and birds back to health.

Furthermore, he gained widespread recognition as a nature lover through extensive tree-planting initiatives aimed at conserving the environment and biodiversity.

Environmentalists, wildlife conservationists, and leaders of various socio-cultural organizations-both in Sreemangal and across the country-have expressed deep grief over the passing of Shitesh Ranjan Deb.