Sundarbans safe haven for poachers
2,950-feet deer trap, 105 kg venison, six deer heads and five hides recovered in 5 months
Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, has recently turned into a 'sanctuary for deer poachers' despite the authorities' concerned regular drive.
A large number of deer were killed by setting poisonous traps at Chapai and Sharankhola of East Sundarbans division and Burigoalinia area of the West Sundarbans in the last few months as professional poachers were not arrested remarkably, said locals.
At least 2,950-feet deer hunting trap made of snare, 105 kg of venison, six deer heads and five deer hides were recovered in separate drives while 63 poachers arrested in the last five months, said Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of East Sundarbans Mahamudul Hasan.
On March 2, the forest department detained three deer hunters with 1,500-feet trap and a country boat from Kadamtala area of Katka Station under Sharankhola range of Sundarbans.
Members of the coastguard West Zone (Mongla) recovered two deer heads, seven kg of venison and two deer hides from Harbariya canal area in Mongla upazila on March 24.
On January 17, members of the forest department seized 25 kg of deer venison from a boat in Terkanti canal of the West Sundarbans.
During a two-day drive from November 22 in 2018, a patrol team of the forest department arrested 57 poachers from Dublar Char. They also seized a deer head, hide, horns and 50 metre deer hunting trap from their possession.
The DFO said “We are showing zero tolerance policy against the poachers for saving the wildlife.”
They are conducting drives regularly as the criminals cannot go unpunished, he said.