Bare power line kills 1 wild monkey, burns 10 others
At least one wild monkey died of electrocution and 10 others badly burned in the last fifteen days after an uninsulated power line was inaugurated on December 15 through Santoshpur Reserve Forest in Phulbaria upazila.
Local lawmaker Muslem Uddin inaugurated the overhead electrical power line, installed by Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS) under Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board.
The reserve forest is habitat for various wildlife including more than 350 wild monkeys.
Advocate Imdadul Haque Selim, a member of the committee for forests and environment in Phulbaria upazila, said the authorities concerned did not bother to take necessary measures to protect the wildlife although the lawmaker had asked them to do so during the inaugural programme.
Ashraful Alam Khan, a beat officer of Bangladesh Forest Department, said they informed PBS of the animal casualties since the line came in operation, but PBS is yet to take any steps in this regard.
Monkeys roam in troops and other members of the troop can get hurt while trying to rescue or save another member in danger, he said, adding that in May 2018, the forest department had asked the PBS to refrain from laying any overhead power cable through the forest.
The forest department was trying to get a hold of the injured monkeys for providing necessary medical care, he also said.
PBS deputy general manager in Phulbaria, Anita Bormon, said they already visited the area and would take immediate steps for the protection of the wild animals in the forest.
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