A REPORT in a local daily mentioned that poachers are indiscriminately hunting and selling birds, especially herons, posing a serious threat to wildlife at Hakaluki Haor, one of the country’s largest natural water bodies. The report stated that poachers said they caught the birds which are in good demand for consumption, without facing restrictions from the authorities concerned although poaching is banned under The Wildlife (Protection and Safety) Act 2012.The report mentioned that environmentalists said that the killing of birds, if it continued, would affect the ecological system of the huge marshland. Hakaluki Haor is an ‘ecologically critical area’ having international importance for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands, they observed. However, poachers were either unaware or non cognizant of the facts.
The report further stated that the indiscriminate killing of herons is one of the main reasons why the population of herons is decreasing in the area. Other reasons include the shrinking of water bodies and the decrease of indigenous fish species. However the report also stated that poachers are not only content to poach wild birds but they are also killing commercially reared birds. The report further mentioned that Mahbubur Rahman, Divisional Forest Officer [Wildlife and Nature Conservation Department] of Sylhet, said The Wildlife (Protection and Safety) Act 2012 had a provision of awarding one year jail and a fine of up to Tk 1 lakh or both to the bird poachers. The report quoted him as saying that he would conduct drives against the bird poachers if he would have access to the needful information.
We want the government officials to be vigilant and take their responsibility seriously. Poaching cannot be accepted as occupation for living.
