Forest officials in Bangladesh rescued a weak Bengal tiger from an illegal deer snare in the Sundarbans, underscoring ongoing poaching risks to the world’s largest mangrove forest and wildlife survival.
The Bangladesh Forest Department on Sunday rescued an endangered Bengal tiger that had been caught in an illegal deer-hunting snare inside the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The rescue operation was carried out after forest officials tranquillised the tiger using a tranquiliser gun, safely freeing it from the trap. At around 2:50 pm, the animal was transported in a cage out of the forest and taken towards Khulna under tight security.
Forest officials said the tiger appeared weak following its ordeal and was immediately given saline. It is being taken to the Forest Department’s Wildlife and Nature Conservation Rescue Centre in Khulna, where it will receive medical treatment before a decision is made on its release or further care.
Howlader Azad Kabir, acting officer-in-charge of the Karamjal Eco-Tourism Centre under the Chandpai Range of the Sundarbans East Forest Division, said the animal’s condition was stable but required close observation.
The Forest Department first received information on Saturday afternoon that a tiger had been trapped in a deer snare about half a kilometre inside the forest from the Shorkir Canal, which separates local settlements from the Sundarbans. The location falls under the Baidymari Forest Patrol Outpost of the Chandpai Range, situated between Baidymari and Joymoni Bazar in Mongla Upazila of Bagerhat District.
After confirming the incident, a specialised rescue team was deployed, including veterinary surgeons from Dhaka and wildlife conservation officials from Khulna. The tiger was tranquillised at around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday before being freed from the snare.
Md Mofizur Rahman Chowdhury, fisheries expert and smart data coordinator at the Forest Department’s Wildlife and Nature Conservation Division in Khulna, said transporting the tiger was challenging due to a large crowd of onlookers. “We faced significant pressure from people gathering to see the tiger, but the animal is now being taken safely to Khulna via Mongla,” he said.
Crowds Gather Despite Restrictions
From Saturday evening, thousands of people gathered near the site to catch a glimpse of the trapped tiger. Although the Forest Department imposed restrictions on entering the forest, many ignored the warnings. By Sunday noon, several thousand people had crowded along the banks of the Shorkir Canal, with some managing to take photos and videos before the rescue operation began.
The incident once again highlights the persistent threat of illegal poaching in the Sundarbans, home to the largest remaining population of Bengal tigers. Conservationists warn that snares set for deer and other wildlife continue to pose a serious risk to the survival of this iconic species and the fragile mangrove ecosystem it inhabits.
