Wild animals, birds and the flora and fauna are gradually declining in the wake of steady destruction of forests, poaching and silting-up of streams flowing through the areas.

Helpless wild animals often come near human habitations in search of food, only to be caught and killed.

Animals are also run over by motor vehicles when they try to cross nearby roads. Such incidents are frequent nowadays.

During a recent visit to the Lauachhera Reserve Forest and nearby areas, villages said, animals like fishing cat, wild-cat, the otters, monkey, wild-hog, wild-fowls, entellus (ud-biral), deer and rare species of snakes often enter human habitations.

Sitesh Ranjan Deb of Srimangal, known for activities on environment and wildlife preservation told this correspondent that he managed to collect 14 small tigers, two deer, some wild monkeys and snakes from people and released them into the Lauachhera Reserve Forest with the help of forest officials.

He said, drying-up of small canals flowing through forests has also posed a threat to the existence of aquatic animals such as earth worms, snails, water-insects etc. These are good feed for wild animals.

Silting-up of streams in the forests has its adverse impact. Different species of creepers and small plants like dumur, belom, piper and bon tetul plants are vanishing because of natural and men-made calamities.

Lack of sufficient feed in the forests is forcing wild animals and birds to human localities. They are caught and killed as soon as they come out of their habitats.

Over 200 wild animals including 10 fishing cats were run over by vehicles on road and highways adjacent to forests areas in Kamalganj and Srimangol upazilas in last two years, Sitesh Ranjan Deb said.

The Magurchhera gas well explosion on June 14, 1997 destroyed the flora and fauna of Lawachhera Reserve Forest, covering about 300 hectares in Kamalganj and Srimangal upazilas. The reserve forest was declared a National Park by the government and a project titled 'Nisarga Prokalpa' was taken up to preserve its bio-diversity and wild life and create awareness among local people about environment and source of their income for them.

The Nisarga Prokalpa was launched more than a year ago but it failed to create any impact on the local people as regards preserving the bio-diversity of the forest.

Many locals this correspondent talked to said they are not even aware of the programme. The authorities also did not arrange any programme to brief journalists about activities and achievements of the project, though many journalists and other professionals visited the Nisarga Prakalpa.