Sylhet Wildlife Conservation Centre: A condemned cell for animals

The wildlife conservation centre in Tilagarh Eco Park of Sylhet has turned into a death trap for animals since it started operation in November 2018.

Over these months, at least 33 animals and birds died at the centre, said Forest Department officials.

Confirming the number of deaths, Chayanbrata Choudhury, acting beat officer of Tilagarh Forest Beat, said four deer, four chukar partridges, four peacocks and one swamp hen were among the dead.

Besides, 20 love birds either died or managed to escape from the cage, he added.

An insider who closely monitored the animals, however, said the number of deaths was as high as 50 and at least 10 more animals went missing.

Talking to The Daily Star, animal rights activists blamed the lack of experienced manpower and appropriate environment for the animals led to so many deaths in such a short time.

Visiting the conservation centre, this correspondent found out no veterinary surgeon was officially appointed there. A hospital that was set up for the animals did not even have a surgical bed.

Talking to this newspaper, Ahmed Rafi, president of Pradhikar, an animal rights organisation of Sylhet Agriculture University, said the conservation centre had the "worst management team".

"The animals are kept in cages that are not liveable at all. Plus, vehicles' access to the centre are troubling these animals."

Ashraful Kabir, coordinator of Bhoomishontan Bangladesh, an environment and animal rights-based organisation, termed the conservation centre a "condemned cell for animals".

"The Forest Department showed the highest level of negligence by bringing in animals at the centre without appointing any expert veterinary surgeon or animal keeper."

Besides, leasing out the conservation centre to a corporate group is outrageous, he added.

In October 2018, the conservation centre was leased out to Tanha Enterprise for Tk 5,05,000. The same company took lease of the centre for Tk 757,000 in October 2019.

Contacted, Anwar Hossain, proprietor of Tanha, said their responsibility was selling entry and parking tickets, managing animal keepers and maintaining security only as per the lease agreement.

"There is no problem in taking care of the animals as we brought in two animal keepers from Bangabandhu Safari Park."

He alleged that the conservation centre was constructed in an unplanned way and that is causing trouble.

"We have a veterinarian from Sylhet Agriculture University who comes routinely to check the health of the animals; but it is not enough.

"Now we are hopeful as the Forest Department is already planning a project to develop it and after completion of the project, all problems will be solved."

According to the Forest Department sources, the lessee was given all the responsibilities to manage the centre, even to bear the cost of keepers and the vet surgeon.

The department has proposed a project of Tk 100 crore for the development of the centre, which is awaiting ministry's approval.

Contacted, SM Sajjad Hossain, deputy conservator of forests and divisional forest officer in Sylhet, said, "The project seeks reconstruction of existing cages and building new, allotting human resources and many other aspects that will help the conservation centre to become a true conservation centre for wildlife."

Admitting there are acute manpower shortage and the lessee does not have the resources to operate the centre properly, he said, "In the project, we have asked for allotting 27 persons including a surgeon and nine keepers.

"Many things were overlooked when the centre was inaugurated and now we want to avert the problems it is facing. We are hopeful to make the centre as a true conservation centre for the wildlife."

With 62 animals, mostly from Bangabandhu Safari Park, the conservation centre was opened on November 2, 2018. Around 40 more animals were brought in later at different times and some were brought in after being rescued by different animal rights organisations.

A total of 45.34 hectares of forest was declared as Tilagarh Eco Park in 2006. After years of leaving it uncared for, the Forest Department in 2012 took the initiative to establish a wildlife conservation centre there.

According to the Forest Department, the initial budget of the project was 9.79 crore and the work of establishing the centre started in 2013. It was supposed to end by June 2016.

After revising the deadline, the Forest Department completed the construction work by the mid 2018 in a hurry. As they did not have proper human resources to open it, the department leased it out.

Of all the issues, two spotted deer gave birth to two calves at the conservation centre on January 18 and February 13 this year.