Wildlife trafficking goes unabatedly in Ctg

Trafficking of wildlife is going on unabatedly in Chattogram despite the efforts of law enforcement agencies and the forest department to contain the malpractice.

Although some animals and birds are rescued at times through the drives conducted by the law enforcers and officials of Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division (WMNCD) under the forest department, wildlife trafficking has not stopped at all, alleged sources concerned.

The sources said an organised gang of smugglers is poaching endangered species of wild animals and birds from the border and various hilly forest areas of Chattogram. These animals are smuggled to Nupur Market and Dewanhat in Chattogram and also to Dhaka.

According to police and WMNCD officials, the endangered species of wild animals are caught from Ali Kadam and Naikhongchhari of Bandarban and Chunti forest of Chattogram, and sold to a syndicate based in Nupur Market in the port city or smuggled to Dhaka. Some of those animals might be smuggled out to other countries also.

It is alleged that due to the negligence of the forest officials, the syndicate is smuggling various animals from the forest.

On October 27, the police arrested two people from Lohagara in Chattogram, recovering one junglefowl, one leopard cat, and three fishing cats from them. Procured from the local people, belonging to Murong indigenous community, of Ali Kadam area of ​​Bandarban, the arrestees were taking the wildlife species to sell at Nupur Market.

Police sources said some people from different parts of the country including Chattogram and Dhaka are involved in this syndicate.

Earlier on October 8, Lohagara police arrested two people and recovered a rare species of gibbon from them.

On November 10, the police detained a person along with one porcupine and two Bengal slow lorises. The animals were being smuggled to Dhaka.

Atiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Lohagara Police Station, said, “During primary interrogation, the detainees said that procuring from the indigenous community people of the Chattogram Hill Tracts, they were smuggling wild animals to Riazuddin Bazar in Chattogram and Dhaka.

In reply to a query whether any international gang is involved with the traffickers, he said, “They have told us that they have been selling wildlife inside the country. We have not noticed the involvement of any international gang. Police are investigating to find out who else is involved in this gang.”

According to the Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division, from June 2021 to June 2022, the agency conducted 42 drives in Chattogram, rescuing 425 endangered species of wild animals and birds.

During the drives, Asian palm civet, hog badger, parrot, common hill myna, lonchura, bulbul, monkey, dove, starling, tokay gecko, monitor lizard, Bengal slow loris, boar, junglefowl, fishing cat, pangolin, owl, and purple swamp hen have been rescued. Besides, deer meat was also recovered while being sold.

From July to September this year, 190 wild animals and birds have been rescued by conducting 24 drives from the bird’s market at Nupur Market and Dewanhat area. The traffickers have been fined and punished, said WMNCD officials.

Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury, Chattogram divisional forest officer of WMNCD, told The Business Post that there is a shortage of manpower in the forest department, including the wildlife management division. “So, we cannot guard the vast forest area. However, the traffickers have been arrested by conducting raids at different times. We conducted raids in various places of Chattogram including Nupur Market and Dewanhat area to rescue wild animals and arrest wildlife traffickers,” he said.

“They smuggle wildlife from the Ali Kadam and Naikhongchhari areas of Bandarban. But we are working on how to reduce trafficking,” he added.