Nature Quest: The rescuer of Herons

Saving Indian pond herons is dirty work. But it isn't going to dissuade the upazila nirbahi officer of Natore sadar upazila, Mohammed Nairuzzaman, or accompanying local police, from conducting a mobile court drive against heron hunters.

At 6:30am in the morning, the administrative team sets out through fog for the wetland called Shibdurgram Beel, where hunters are known to be active.

"Poachers hunt the birds regularly here," says Akram Hossain, a local villager. "They sell a pair of herons for Tk 150."

"They hunt herons in different areas of the beel," agrees neighbour Delwar Hossain, "and sell them openly."

"We conduct regular mobile court drives against bird poachers," says Nairuzzaman, "We punish both hunters and buyers of the birds."

"If ever I hear of poaching activity I give it priority," he continues, "not only because it is illegal, but because in Bangladesh many bird species have already become extinct. Herons yet remain. They play a vital role in the ecosystem and if we don't protect them from indiscriminate hunting, they too shall be lost forever."

In catching herons, poachers usually construct camouflaged shelters in the wetland area, where they use a previously caught bird tied to a bamboo pole to attract yet more. With the heron atop the pole calling and flapping its wings, other herons are drawn to the spot, to be snared by hand.

Reaching the wetland by 7:00am the anti-poaching team is not shy to embrace the damp, muddy conditions. "As the son of a farmer and a son of the soil, I feel quite at home when conditions are muddy," says Nairuzzaman. "Besides, it's my duty."

The terrain, however, makes a surprise raid difficult, and hunters are able to flee the area as they see the mobile court approach.

"The sole purpose of the drive is not to catch the hunters, though ideally we do. It also serves to raise awareness," explains Nairuzzaman. "When they see us in the area, hunters can be sure we are serious about combating their illegal activity. They will be scared to return and continue."

Nevertheless the morning's work yields significant results: 11 herons are rescued from the middle of the water body.

Five of the birds are found tied to bamboo poles which the hunters dropped as they fled. According to local villagers, the remaining six would have been caught within the two hours since dawn.

While there, the mobile court officers destroy the hideouts of the hunters, before returning to town with the recovered birds. In the yard of the upazila complex at around 9:30am, 11 fortunate herons once again find their freedom. "To save the lives, even of birds, it feels so good," says Nairuzzaman.