Poaching a threat to wildlife in Sundarbans

An interesting report was published in a local English daily on March 15 along with a table which shows the amount of illegally poached deer and tiger skins recovered year-wise. Naturally, the loss of deer population is much larger as killing deer is easier and both the meat and the skin are saleable. From the table it seems that the years 2014 and 2015 have brought more deer and tiger skins to the market compared to the earlier years. Since the figures are based on illegal skins actually recovered, the total amount of illegal skins traded is bound to be more. 

Poaching of tiger and deer skins is increasing rapidly. The Sundarbans, one of the world's few animal sanctuaries, is under the threat of human incursion. The forest is no longer safe for the deer, tigers, snakes and other species of animals and birds that are still living there.

S. A. Mansoor
Dhaka