Ministry sources said the government is pondering on declaration of the grounds of the gibbon languor (hanuman) at Keshobpur in Jessore and monkey at Charmuguria in Madaripur as sanctuaries for the rare animals.

They said the government has already issued an allocation of rice and wheat for the species and planned to launch a project to save wildlife through scientific ways.

A non-governmental organisation PEACE (Poverty Elimination Association Centre for Everywhere) has come forward to assist the government aiming to save wildlife.

As part of the first move, the PEACE today organises a seminar at Keshobpur headquarters to develop an awareness of saving the species.

Environment Minister Shajahan Siraj and Information Minister Tariqul Islam will attend the seminar styled "Save Wildlife, Save Environment".

According to official and PEACE survey, there is a scatter of around 400 gibbon languor at Keshobpur, while nearly 2,000 monkeys survive at Charmuguria.

The survey showed that the gibbon languor is only available at Keshobpur and has been living there for several hundred years. Locally known as vagabond, the animal roams within an area of 10-square kilometre and lives on papia, banana, mango, jackfruit, guava and green leaves.

Locals said the animals often suffer physical torture in the locality and paddy fields and are in acute crisis of food and shelter due to deforestation for brick-fields that hampers their breeding.

They said once the area hosted around 6,000 gibbon languor, adding that the government should create a sanctuary and provide food for the rare species.