Our Correspondent :
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.
On October 15, 2021, a Press briefing was held at Headquarters of Rab – 6 in Khulna while Commanding Officer ( CO ) Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Mostak Ahmed informed the journalists that two members of a poaching syndicate were arrested by the members of Rab – 6 along with 18 deer skins on October 14, 2021. The arrestees are – Abdul Hakim of Morelganj and Kamrul Islam of Swarankhola upazila of Bagerhat district.
We’re trying to arrest the Mastermind of the poaching syndicate, Rab CO added. According to sources it is learnt that Rewards were declared for giving information about the members of poaching syndicate.
Earlier, the deer poachers were arrested by the law enforcers including the members of the forest division. In the last two 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.
