Unabated poaching of spotted deer worsens in Sundarbans

Deer poaching and hunting in the Sundarbans – the world’s largest mangrove forest – have increased at an alarming rate as poachers become desperate, posing an existential threat to this famed wild animal despite government initiatives to protect them.

“We have been going to each of the areas adjacent to the forest and conducting community engagement meetings, locally known as Uthan Baithak, to raise awareness among the locals about wildlife conservation,” said MA Hasan, Assistant Conservator of Forests of Forest Department (Sundarbans West).

However, locals around the forest alleged that a group of poachers aided by some local political leaders, activists, and representatives of local government bodies, colluding with some corrupt forest officials and staff, are poaching deer in the forest throughout the year.

A large number of spotted deer were killed in the last few months, villagers said.

Locals alleged that organised gangs of poachers usually enter the forest through Koyra’s Jorsing, Angtihara, Tetultala Char, Shyamnagar, Mongla, Sharankhola, and other adjoining villages of Paikgachha and Dacope upazilas of the Sundarbans and hunt deer all year around.

They added that a section of local residents earn their livelihood by poaching deer and selling venison.

Sometimes, the culprits go to the Sundarbans by taking permission as visitors. Although the local forest officers sometimes catch them on the act and seize their hunting equipment and venison, they take little to no legal actions against the poachers for unknown reasons, the villagers claimed.

Speaking to The Business Post seeking anonymity, a number of villagers said horns and hides of deer are the main targets of poachers because of their high demand.

Under the influence of political leaders, administrative officers poaching goes on unabated to please the influential guests who come to visit the Sundarbans, as venison is often considered a delicacy around the country.

They said that it also gets delivered to influential politicians and members of the governing body from the Sundarbans around the year.

Also, it is an open secret here that venison can be home delivered to any interested buyer if they contact the poaching racket beforehand and these illegal activities go on under the nose of the authority with no repercussion whatsoever, said few villagers of Koyra’s Maheshwaripur and Dakkhin Bedkashi union.

Meanwhile, denying the allegations, Officer-in-Charge of Koyra’s Hayatkhali Forest Camp, Md Mosharrof Hossain, claimed that little to no poaching activities exist in the forest.

MA Hasan, Assistant Conservator of Forests of the Forest Department (Sundarban West), told The Business Post that the activities of forest robbers have decreased, but the deer poaching gangs have become more desperate in the Sunderbans and its adjacent areas despite the Forest Department’s initiatives.

Stating their community engagement meetings a success, he said that locals’ engagement in poaching is decreasing day by day but claimed the undue influence of local political leaders and influential quarters are making their work difficult.

Dr Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, a forest officer of the Forest Department (Sundarban West), said, “The forest department is the steward of wildlife and natural resources of the mangrove forest. However, the team has limited resources, minimal logistical support, and security to conduct their work.

“Despite these challenges, one of the priority interventions is to advance patrol monitoring systems in the Sundarbans. Security measures have been strengthened by increasing patrols in the area, and we are also trying to make aware the residents of adjacent villages about the importance of wildlife conservation.”

He further mentioned that they arrested eight poachers and seized over 32 kilograms of venison, 14 traps, and one motorcycle during the last 1.5 months (January 1 to February 15).

“We have filed three cases accusing the eight poachers. Four of them are under our custody while four are currently on the run,” the forest official said.

During the same period, at least 10 cases have been filed by the Forest Department (Khulna Range), accusing 24 people. They were able to arrest ten people, and 14 others managed to flee. The department seized two deer heads, 959 traps, eight legs, two deerskin, and 79 kgs of venison from them in a drive.