Heyday for poachers in CHT forests

A bear rescued from poachers in Nikhyangchhari jungle last year by Bandarban district administration now sheltered at Meghla Mini Parjatan resort in the district (bottom) and a baboon in Kaptaimukh reserve forests. PHOTO: STAR

Common species are also fleeing to forests across the border as poachers hunt chase them.

At least 100 deer were killed in the Rampahar-Shitapahar reserve forest in Rangamati in last one year, it was gathered from forest department employees. It was declared a sanctuary in 1991.

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Last week, body of a dead elephant was recovered from Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary. Marks of injury on its body suggested that it was killed by poachers.

Destruction of forests is another cause of disappearance of wildlife, the forest employees said.

This correspondent visited the two wildlife sanctuaries in last week and talked to forest department employees and local indigenous people.

Poaching is going on unabated in the forests including the reserve forests due to an alleged nexus between a section of forest employees and locals, it was gathered.

"Wild animals are always on the run as poachers follow them wherever they hide", said a forest employee.

"There are two sanctuaries in this hills but you would never find any wild animal unless you are lucky", he added.

"In Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary, you would never find deer, wild boar, pythons, peacocks, beautiful species of goats and wild cocks now a days. These were in plenty and seen even near human habitations earlier", he said.

"They left the forests for survival and due to chase by poachers. "These are sanctuary in name only now", he added.

Surprisingly, there was no survey of wildlife in the CHT in last 20 years though there is a Wildlife Wing under the Forest Department. The officials are not interested in doing a survey.

Saiful Islam, Director-in Charge of Rampahar-Shitapahar sanctuary, when contacted said they can not stop poaching due to lack of manpower and arms. The limited number of forest guards with their obsolete arms can not face the poachers, he claimed.

An earlier survey had recorded 76 species of wild animals, 100 species of wild birds, 7 species of amphibious animals and 25 species of snakes in the hills.

But many of these, including wild elephants, deer, some species of snake, monkey, baboon (honuman), jackal, hare, some species of frog, wild cock, wild boar, mongoose, porcupine, leopard, wild buffalo are rarely seen in the forests.

Indigenous people in the hills said 'Mothura' (a beautiful wild bird like peacock) and pythons are prime targets of poachers as they bring handsome amounts of money.

Saiful said hunting of animals by hill people for food is one of the main causes for the decreasing in wildlife population. Human population in the hills is increasing and so also their need for food, he said.

It was gathered that a section forest guards in connivance with local hill people help the poachers in hunting down wild animals.

The locals said monkey, baboon and donesh birds (Anthracoceros Malabaricus) are virtually not found in the reserve forest in Rampahar- Sitapahar