Forest officials rescued a rare Malayan Night Heron from traffickers in Rangamati’s Kaptai after a tip-off raid, though suspects fled, leaving the bird behind for care.
A rare Malayan Night Heron was rescued by Bangladesh‘s forest department while it was being trafficked in Rangamati’s Kaptai on Tuesday, officials said.
The bird was recovered around midday in the Baingchhari area of Kaptai Union No. 4 during a raid led by Kaptai Range Officer Mamunur Rahman, based on a tip-off, according to forest officials.
Sensing the presence of the forest department, the traffickers fled the scene after abandoning the bird, and no one was arrested during the operation.
Forest department member Osman Gani, who took part in the raid, said the team moved quickly after receiving secret information and managed to rescue the rare bird even though the traffickers escaped.
Mamunur Rahman said the rescued bird is now being kept in the custody of the forest department, where arrangements have been made for its initial treatment and care. He said the next steps would be taken in line with instructions from higher authorities.
The rescued bird was identified as a Malayan Night Heron, also known as the Tiger Bittern, with the scientific name Gorsachius melanolophus.
This medium-sized heron species is found across South and East Asia and usually lives in dense forest areas. Its presence has previously been recorded in the Kaptai National Park area.
