Ahsanul Amin George, Khulna :
Deer poachers and smugglers are still active in the Sundarbans, the largest heritage site in the world. Wildlife particularly deer face great threat for poaching by the poachers. Despite several drives by the members of different law enforcing agencies, the poachers are entering into the Sundarbans taking several techniques, hunting deer and smuggling meat, skins and heads of deer.
Sometimes, the deer poachers are arrested by the law enforcers including the members of the forest division. In the last one and a half years, more than 50 deer poachers were arrested by the members of Coastguard and police during different drives while more than 500 Kgs of deer meat, 8 trawlers and a huge number of traps were seized.
According to the animal census in 1995 by FAO and UNDP, the numbers of deer in the Sundarbans were 1,20, 000 ( One lakh twenty Thousand).
According to another survey under the project of Integrated Resource Management in 1996-97, the numbers of deer were one lakh to one and a half lakh. In 2001, the numbers were the same.
Sources of London based Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh & Zoological Society said, more than ten thousand deer were killed by the poachers every year in the Sundarbans.
Sources said, the poachers technically enter into the Sundarbans after taking passes of Crab collection, but thereafter they start hunting deer setting traps in the deep forest. After hunting deer, the skins, meat and heads are smuggled at different parts of the country.
Sources further said, on January 7, 2019, forest guards recovered 30 kgs deer meat and a trawler left by the poachers from Chila area in Poshur river of East Sundarbans while poachers managed to escape from the spot. On January 3, 2019,Charkhali patrol outpost in Swarankhola Range’s forest guards seized 1400 feet trap for hunting deer after conducting drive at Charkhali area. On December 9, 2018, from the same area, 20 kgs deer meat and a trawler were seized and on December 8, 2018, 10 kgs meat and a trawler were seized from Sindurbaria area by Shapla patrol outpost guards.
In the last year some miscreants set fire four times in the deep forest of the east Sundarbans. As such the watch towers and barbwire fences need be set urgently.
Experts think, in order to save the bio-diversity of the Sundarbans and protect it from the forest robbers, it is essential to set watch towers and barbwire fences as early as file. The Sundarbans, the world heritage site and also the largest mangrove forest in the world should protect by any means, according to the analysts.
On condition of anonymity, an analyst said, if the officials and staffs of the forest division become cordial to start the works of setting up the watch towers and barbwire fences in the Sundarbans, then it is possible to implement the projects within short time and in this way the bio-diversity of the Sundarbans would be protected and it would also be protect the poachers.
The Sundarbans, the largest contiguous patch of Mangrove Forest in the world, constitutes 51 percent of the total reserved Forest estate and is also the richest natural resources of Bangladesh. Around 6 lacs persons are dependent upon the Sundarbans.
Population growth and economic development have brought immense pressure on mangrove wealth and its system for firewood, timber, fishes, honey and thatching materials. About 6 lacs people directly or indirectly depended on the resources of Sundarbans in a network of numerous Sundary and big streams and creeks in the adverse bioclimatic of mangrove forests infested with fierce wild animals-tiger in land and crocodile in water struggling for Survival. The forest department with the aid of EU fund through Seals project is initiative for diverting the minds of such sundarbans independent people to the alternative way. Three NGOS named world vision, concern worldwide and Relief international EU funded NGO are working in the Sundarbans for developing alternative livelihoods for Sundarbans Reserved Forest (SRF) dependent households.
There are more than 375 wild life species in SRF which include 35 reptiles, 315 birds and 42 mammals. The major wildlife in Sundarbans are the Royal Bengal Tiger, Spotted deer, Wild Boar, Monkey, Estuarine crocodile, python, Turtle, Dolphin, Otter, Jungle, Cast, Fishing cat and a Variety of bird species.
It may be mentioned in this connection that the UNESCO World Heritage committee declared Sundarbans as its 798th heritage site on the 6th December 1997 under the categories (ii) and (iv) of the convention. The prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ceremonially unveiled the world Heritage plaque on February 4, 1999 which includes three wild life Sanctuary with an area of 1,39,700 hectare.
Lt. Abdullah Al Mahmud, Operation Officer of West Zone’s Coastguard said, Regular patrols by 5 stations’ officers and members of coastguard are being going on with a view to protect the wildlife.
Mahmudul Hasan, Divisional Forest Officer of the East Division of the Sundarbans said, Strict vigilances are going on in the Sundarbans in order to obstruct the poachers.
Deer poachers and smugglers are still active in the Sundarbans, the largest heritage site in the world. Wildlife particularly deer face great threat for poaching by the poachers. Despite several drives by the members of different law enforcing agencies, the poachers are entering into the Sundarbans taking several techniques, hunting deer and smuggling meat, skins and heads of deer.
Sometimes, the deer poachers are arrested by the law enforcers including the members of the forest division. In the last one and a half years, more than 50 deer poachers were arrested by the members of Coastguard and police during different drives while more than 500 Kgs of deer meat, 8 trawlers and a huge number of traps were seized.
According to the animal census in 1995 by FAO and UNDP, the numbers of deer in the Sundarbans were 1,20, 000 ( One lakh twenty Thousand).
According to another survey under the project of Integrated Resource Management in 1996-97, the numbers of deer were one lakh to one and a half lakh. In 2001, the numbers were the same.
Sources of London based Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh & Zoological Society said, more than ten thousand deer were killed by the poachers every year in the Sundarbans.
Sources said, the poachers technically enter into the Sundarbans after taking passes of Crab collection, but thereafter they start hunting deer setting traps in the deep forest. After hunting deer, the skins, meat and heads are smuggled at different parts of the country.
Sources further said, on January 7, 2019, forest guards recovered 30 kgs deer meat and a trawler left by the poachers from Chila area in Poshur river of East Sundarbans while poachers managed to escape from the spot. On January 3, 2019,Charkhali patrol outpost in Swarankhola Range’s forest guards seized 1400 feet trap for hunting deer after conducting drive at Charkhali area. On December 9, 2018, from the same area, 20 kgs deer meat and a trawler were seized and on December 8, 2018, 10 kgs meat and a trawler were seized from Sindurbaria area by Shapla patrol outpost guards.
In the last year some miscreants set fire four times in the deep forest of the east Sundarbans. As such the watch towers and barbwire fences need be set urgently.
Experts think, in order to save the bio-diversity of the Sundarbans and protect it from the forest robbers, it is essential to set watch towers and barbwire fences as early as file. The Sundarbans, the world heritage site and also the largest mangrove forest in the world should protect by any means, according to the analysts.
On condition of anonymity, an analyst said, if the officials and staffs of the forest division become cordial to start the works of setting up the watch towers and barbwire fences in the Sundarbans, then it is possible to implement the projects within short time and in this way the bio-diversity of the Sundarbans would be protected and it would also be protect the poachers.
The Sundarbans, the largest contiguous patch of Mangrove Forest in the world, constitutes 51 percent of the total reserved Forest estate and is also the richest natural resources of Bangladesh. Around 6 lacs persons are dependent upon the Sundarbans.
Population growth and economic development have brought immense pressure on mangrove wealth and its system for firewood, timber, fishes, honey and thatching materials. About 6 lacs people directly or indirectly depended on the resources of Sundarbans in a network of numerous Sundary and big streams and creeks in the adverse bioclimatic of mangrove forests infested with fierce wild animals-tiger in land and crocodile in water struggling for Survival. The forest department with the aid of EU fund through Seals project is initiative for diverting the minds of such sundarbans independent people to the alternative way. Three NGOS named world vision, concern worldwide and Relief international EU funded NGO are working in the Sundarbans for developing alternative livelihoods for Sundarbans Reserved Forest (SRF) dependent households.
There are more than 375 wild life species in SRF which include 35 reptiles, 315 birds and 42 mammals. The major wildlife in Sundarbans are the Royal Bengal Tiger, Spotted deer, Wild Boar, Monkey, Estuarine crocodile, python, Turtle, Dolphin, Otter, Jungle, Cast, Fishing cat and a Variety of bird species.
It may be mentioned in this connection that the UNESCO World Heritage committee declared Sundarbans as its 798th heritage site on the 6th December 1997 under the categories (ii) and (iv) of the convention. The prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ceremonially unveiled the world Heritage plaque on February 4, 1999 which includes three wild life Sanctuary with an area of 1,39,700 hectare.
Lt. Abdullah Al Mahmud, Operation Officer of West Zone’s Coastguard said, Regular patrols by 5 stations’ officers and members of coastguard are being going on with a view to protect the wildlife.
Mahmudul Hasan, Divisional Forest Officer of the East Division of the Sundarbans said, Strict vigilances are going on in the Sundarbans in order to obstruct the poachers.
