OTTERS & FISH
A fisherman fixes his net.
Ranjeet’s boat cruises along the waterways of the Garai river. “It’s not possible to support a family with this profession anymore”, says Ranjeet, who has fished with otters for over 30 years. As rivers dry up and the fish population decreases, Ranjeet and his team barely make a living.
Ranjeet’s partner smokes a cigarette on the early hours of the morning. During winter, the fishermen spend up to 8 hours on the boat without proper winter clothes.
Fishermen push the net from the boat towards the edge of the river, while the otters muster the fish towards the net. Bangladesh is one of the last places on earth where this ancient tradition is still practiced. For centuries, fishermen from this area have trained wild otters to muster fish towards their nets improving their catch significantly.
The otters swim and eat while mustering the fish towards the net.
The fishermen pull the net out of the water to grab their catch. Bangladesh is one of the last places on earth where this ancient tradition is still practiced. For centuries, fishermen from this area have trained wild otters to muster fish towards their nets improving their catch significantly.
Ranjeet and his partners split the catch. As rivers dry up and the fish population decreases, Ranjeet and his team barely make a living. Ranging from US$8 to US$12, their daily income supports around 25 people.
The catch of the day. As rivers dry up and the fish population decreases, Ranjeet and his team barely make a living. Ranging from US$8 to US$12, their daily income supports around 25 people.
Ranjeet and his partners split the catch. As rivers dry up and the fish population decreases, Ranjeet and his team barely make a living. Ranging from US$8 to US$12, their daily income supports around 25 people.
Ranjeet feeds his otters after a night’s work. “It’s not possible to support a family with this profession anymore”, says Ranjeet, who has fished with otters for over 30 years. As rivers dry up and the fish population decreases, Ranjeet and his team barely make a living.
Ranjeet feeds his otters after a night’s work. “It’s not possible to support a family with this profession anymore”, says Ranjeet, who has fished with otters for over 30 years. As rivers dry up and the fish population decreases, Ranjeet and his team barely make a living.
After a good meal and a swim, the otters will stay in their bamboo box until their next trip at night. Ranjeet has fished with otters for over 30 years. Bangladesh is one of the last places on earth where this ancient tradition is still practiced.
A fisherman on his boat. During winter, the fishermen spend up to 8 hours on the boat without proper winter clothes.
Ranjeet cleans his boat after a night’s work. “It’s not possible to support a family with this profession anymore”, says Ranjeet, who has fished with otters for over 30 years. As rivers dry up and the fish population decreases, Ranjeet and his team barely make a living.
After a good meal and a swim, the otters will stay in their bamboo box until their next trip at night. Ranjeet has fished with otters for over 30 years. Bangladesh is one of the last places on earth where this ancient tradition is still practiced.