Bangladesh men jailed for beating crocodile

Crocodiles are protected under Bangladesh law

Two men in Bangladesh have been jailed for severely beating a pregnant crocodile at an Islamic shrine.

The crocodile, named Pipil, was badly injured and lost one eye after the men hit her with bamboo sticks.

The attack took place in April at Khan Jahan Ali shrine, in Bagerhat district, 135km (85 miles) southwest of the capital Dhaka.

On Tuesday, a court convicted the men of torture and sentenced them to two years in jail with hard labour.

Money collected

The Khan Jahan Ali shrine has about two dozen crocodiles living in a big pond where pilgrims can feed and watch them.

The two men convicted were among a group of people who collect money from visitors by exhibiting the crocodiles.

The group is known to beat the crocodiles if they do not respond to their calls, Dhaka's Daily Star newspaper reported.

According to local authorities, five crocodiles have died in the last 10 years because of mistreatment by the group, it said.

Crocodiles are protected under Bangladesh law, and offenders face up to five years in jail for torturing or killing them.