Bangladesh Coast Guard recovered 100kg deer meat and 4,000m traps near Gholer Khal, Sundarbans, after a tip-off. Suspected poachers fled; seized items were handed to Forest Department for legal action.
Bangladesh Coast Guard seized 100 kilograms of deer meat and around 4,000 metres of illegal deer-hunting traps during an anti-poaching operation in the Sundarbans on Monday, officials said.
The Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared by Bangladesh and India, is the world’s largest mangrove forest and a vital habitat for diverse wildlife, including the spotted deer. Conservationists warn that illegal hunting of deer threatens the forest’s biodiversity and disrupts its ecological balance.
The anti-poaching operation was carried out in an area adjacent to Gholer Khal in the Sundarbans under Koyra upazila of Khulna, following intelligence reports about illegal wildlife hunting inside the protected forest.
Lieutenant Commander Md Muntasir Ibne Mohsin, media officer of Coast Guard West Zone, said the operation was conducted in the afternoon near the Kagadobeki patrol outpost.
“Acting on secret information, our team launched a special operation and recovered 100 kilograms of deer meat along with around 4,000 metres of illegal hunting traps,” he said.
He added that the suspected poachers managed to flee into the forest after sensing the presence of Coast Guard personnel. “The poachers escaped deep into the Sundarbans, which prevented us from making arrests during the operation,” he said.
The seized deer meat and hunting equipment were handed over to forest guards at the Kagadobeki patrol outpost of the Forest Department for further legal action under Bangladesh’s wildlife protection laws.
Providing an overview of recent enforcement efforts, Lieutenant Commander Mohsin said Coast Guard operations in the Sundarbans have intensified over the past year.
“From January to December, we seized 824 kilograms of deer meat and arrested 29 poachers in different operations across the Sundarbans,” he said.
He added that the latest arrest before Monday’s drive took place on December 27, when two poachers were detained with 21 kilograms of deer meat from the Muchir Doani area of the forest.
“The Coast Guard will continue intelligence-based patrols and operations to protect the Sundarbans and prevent wildlife killing and trafficking,” Lieutenant Commander Mohsin said.
