Deer poachers active in Sundarbans
Poachers have recently become active in the Sundarbans and adjacent areas of the world's largest mangrove forest .
The poachers are hunting deer indiscriminately in collusion with local influential people, and selling the venison, hides and horns at high prices, people of Mongla and Sharankhola upazilas said, adding that the venison is sold in various secret markets in Sharankhola, Mongla, Chila, Satkhira, Koyra, Paikgachha, Terokhada, Dumuria, Tala, Chuknagar and adjacent areas of the Sundarbans,
There are some active groups of poachers, numbering 12-15 in each group, who poach about 30-35 deer a month and sell those to the fish traders, they said.
The Coastguard's West Zone (Mongla) Operations Officer Lt Commander M Fariduzzaman Khan said members of the Coastguard of the zone recovered 140 kg of venison, heads and skins of deer, boats and traps during drives in July, but the poachers managed to evade most of the drives.
They have 12 stations under the zone that patrol the Sundarbans and adjacent areas for six hours daily to check poachers, forest robbers, and illegal netting of fish using poison, he added.
On July 6, the Coastguard in a drive recovered two deer heads, skin and 80 kg of venison in a boat at Katlar Khal in Sharankhola upazila. No one was arrested as the poachers managed to flee the scene sensing the presence of the law enforcers, he added.
On July 4, in a joint drive, the Coastguard and Department of Forest recovered 60 kg of venison and a boat from Manik Khali area of Pathorghata upazila of Barguna district, he further said.
On July 7, two boats with deer traps were seized from Jholakhali area during another drive, but no one was arrested, the operations officer said.
Divisional Conservator of Forests Amir Hossain Chowdhury said although they have shortage of manpower, they are taking special measures to check poaching in the Sundarbans.
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