Taking the opportunity of a relaxed security measure against anti-socials, thieves and illegal hunters amid Coronavirus Pandemic, a vested quarter at Bangladeshi part of the Sundarbans is active in hunting deer and selling its flesh.
Conscious persons of the area have protested such unrestrained hunting of wildlife, mainly deer, and demanded to take action against those illegal poachers in the Sundarbans immediately.
It is learnt, in various places of Dakop region of the Sunderbans, venison (flesh of deer) is being sold regularly.
Locals informed that the poachers are very active and are engaged unabated and indiscriminately to hunt deer at Sutarkhali, Kalabpogi, Nolian, Kalinagar, Koilashganj, Ramnagar, Banishanta, Dhangmari, Khejuria and Laudob Upazilas under West and the Eastern parts of the Sundarbans.
A section of identified poachers was very active in the said regions of the forest to hunt or poach deer using various traps made of ropes for last couples of months.
Venison is seen being sold at Dakop.
Residents of Dakop informed, the venison sellers (butchers) enter into the forest areas secretly and return with the deer caught by poachers, to the locality and slaughter the deer to sell venison to the customers at Taka 500 to 600 per kilogramme.
Officials of the Department of Forest and the Members of Coast Guard occasionally nab those butchers with flesh and hide of deer but the hunting of deer and selling of its flesh is continuing almost unabated.
Local influential are learnt to purchase venison from the illegal butchers. As a result, in spite of goodwill, local people are failing to stop those butchers to sell deer flesh.
Jamal Sheikh and Masud Sheikh, two residents of Dakop area informed, there are several cases against the poacher gang members. Occasionally, someone is arrested while others manage to escape. Again, those arrested criminals manage bail from the court and again engage in poaching.
Anowar Hossain, Station Officer of Dhangmari under Chandpai Range of the Sunderbans informed, the patrolling through the forest has been intensified to check illegal poaching of deer.
Drive is being also conducted against the poachers and legal action will be taken under the Wildlife Act against the person arrested on the allegation of poaching.
Wildlife Researchers informed, if such poaching continues further, the spotted, barking deer of the Sundarbans might become extinct and the Royal Bengal tigers of the forest would also face the threat of existence in absence of those deer.
Wildlife Researcher Nasir Uddin informed, a prolonged lockdown and absence of work might make the poachers further desperate. Officials of the concerned department and the common people should remain alert to check deer hunting and selling of its flesh and hide.
