Injured binturong needs better treatment

The seriously injured binturong, captured by locals at Brahmangaon village in Tahirpur upazila of Sunamganj on January 2, was referred to Gazipur Safari Park for better treatment yesterday.

"With its head and neck badly hurt, the binturong cannot move properly. We gave treatment to it for the last one week but it did not improve much and took only water," said Swapon Deb Sajal, director of Bangladesh Wildlife Service Foundation in Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar district. 

"As the binturong didn't get any significant improvement, we referred it to Gazipur Safari Park for better treatment," said Tabibur Rahman, assistant conservator of wildlife management and nature conservation department in Moulvibazar.

The animal will need better treatment by wildlife specialists, said veterinary surgeon Dr Md Ariful Islam.

"Binturong (scientific name: Arctictis binturong) is the largest species of the viverridae family, only rivalled by the African civet. They are robust animals, growing 2-3 feet long (double if the tail is included) and weigh between 25 and 50 pounds," said Monjur Kader, president of 'Pranidhikar' an animal conservation organization.

The binturong was captured by residents of Brahmangaon in Uttar Borodal union under Tahirpur upazila on January 2 when it jumped off a tree being scared to see people, said Nandan Kanti Dhar, officer in charge of Tahirpur Police Station.

Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer RFM Monirul Islam arranged sending the animal to Bangladesh Wildlife Service Foundation in Srimangal the next day.

Entrance of wildlife to human habitations indicates serous degradation of the natural habitats of the former, said Sharif Jamil, joint secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon.