An endangered Hoolock Gibbon (Ulluk) was recovered from a mobile court passenger bus in Chunati area of Lohagara police station on Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway while being taken for smuggling.
On Saturday morning, a passenger bus was raided and the owl was recovered and the accused arrested.
Meanwhile, the mobile court was conducted by Executive Magistrate and Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Sharif Ullah, Police Station OC Atiqur Rahman, SI Sajib Hossain, Chunati Union Parishad Chairman Zainal Abedin Janu, Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary Range Officer Mahmud Hossain, Satgarh Forestbit Officer Shah Alam was present.
Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary Range Officer Mahmud said the rescued animal was identified as a Hoolock Gibbon. It mainly lives in the trunk of the tree, it moves there, eats and does everything in the tree. The animal is a very endangered species. Gibbon owls can be found in a handful of forested areas in Bangladesh. They live by eating fruits and insects. The animal will be taken to Dullahazara Safari Park and released in the forest after testing.
The police arrested two smugglers. The mobile court sentenced them to one year imprisonment and fined Tk 10,000. Mazharul is a resident of Daudkandi and Mubin Devidder area of Cumilla.
Lohagara Police Station OC Atiqur Rahman said, based on a tip-off, an endangered species of owl was recovered from in front of the Chunati Forest Office. Two people were arrested.
Legal action will be taken against them.
He said that smugglers caught the owl from Alikadam area of Bandarban and brought it to Lohagara through Chakaria. He said, they were taking it to a shop called 'Nice Bird Garden' in Chattogram's Riazuddin Bazar for sale.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sharif Ullah said that the arrested persons have confessed to wildlife trafficking. He was taking a rare species of owl for sale. Buying and selling and importing and exporting wildlife is a punishable offense under the Wildlife Conservation and Safety Act.
