Fishing cat, yellow turtle return to nature

The wildlife department released a rescued fishing cat and a yellow turtle to Lawachara National Park in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar on Sunday.

The fishing cat was rescued at Bonkadipur village under Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj on Sunday morning while the turtle was rescued from Sherpur fish market in Moulvibazar Sadar upazila the same day, said officials of Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department.

"After hearing about the rescue of the two creatures, we took them under our custody and returned them to the nature at Janokicherra beat under Lawachara forest," said Tabibur Rahman, assistant conservator of forests.

Entrance of wildlife into localities indicates serous degradation of their habitat in forests in recent years, said Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon's Sylhet unit.

"Wildlife was found in the villages around Lawachara on several times. Proper protection and development of forests and biodiversity spots is needed in addition to implementation of the legal procedures under Wildlife Protection Act," said Sarif Jamil, joint secretary of BAPA.

Under the Wildlife (Preservation) (Amendment) Act of 1996, part of the West Bhanugach Reserved Forest was declared “Lawachara National Park,” which encompasses an area of 1250 hectares.