A primate fair in Khagrachhari’s Matiranga brought students, researchers and forest officials together to raise awareness about monkey conservation, forest protection and the role of wildlife in ecosystem balance.
A distinctive primate fair was held in Matiranga in Bangladesh’s Khagrachhari district on Wednesday to raise public awareness about conserving monkeys and other primate species and protecting forests and wildlife.
Speakers at the fair, held in the morning at Pittachhara, said primates play an important role in forest expansion and that stronger social awareness is needed to protect the species.
The event, titled “Primate Fair-2026”, was jointly organised by Germany-based Plumploris e.V. Bangladesh and the local Pittachhara Forest and Wildlife Conservation Initiative. It was inaugurated by Khagrachhari Forest Department Divisional Forest Officer Md Farid Mia.
Among those present were Mahfuz Russel, founder of the Pittachhara Forest and biodiversity Conservation initiativee, and wildlife researcher Hasan Al Razi Chayan, along with others concerned.
Students from Khedachhara Government Primary School and Alutila Bottoli High School took part enthusiastically in the fair. They were introduced to the characteristics of primates, their habitats and their role in the environment. A bioscope exhibition also familiarised them with different monkey species.
The conservation message was further spread through cultural performances, a quiz competition and the distribution of tree saplings among the winners.
“Monkeys play an important role in forest expansion. Initiatives like this help create a sense of responsibility toward the environment and nature among future generations,” said divisional forest officer Md Farid Mia.
He said the Matiranga area and its surroundings are home to several primate species, including slow loris, spectacled langur and capped langur, and stressed that the involvement of local communities is essential for their conservation.
Mahfuz Russel said there is often a lack of interest in monkey conservation and that his group is working to build awareness among students so that indiscriminate killing of animals can be stopped.
Hasan Al Razi Chayan, team leader of Plumploris.V. and a wildlife researcher, said every animal has its own ecosystem and that deforestation in the hill region is disrupting that balance. He said events like the fair can play an important role in building awareness for primate conservation.
Also present at the event were Marjan Maria, animal care and research coordinator at Plumploris e.V., Khagrachhari Sadar Range Officer Md Mosharraf Hossain of the Forest Department and Matiranga Range Officer Md Ataur Rahman Laskar, among others.
