<i>Deer poaching on in Pathorghata</i>

17 January 2010, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali

Four skins of deer seized from Dakkhin Charduani village in Patharghata upazila in Patuakhali district, left, and seven deer rescued alive from poachers who had caught them from the Sundarbans last year. Star file photo

Several gangs are engaged in poaching deer in Pathorghata upazila under Barguna district to make quick bucks from selling venison and deer skin. Law enforcers and forest department staff rescued seven deer alive and seized skins of 17 deer and 31 kg venison from the upazila last year. Seventeen hunters were also arrested during the period. The poachers make traps with plastic rope in forest areas. When deer come to the bank of a river or canal to drink water, gang members forcibly direct the deer to be caught up in the trap. Usually hunters catch deer alive and bring it to their houses at night to keep it inside 'safe holes'. Following buyers' order, the deer are slaughtered and venison is supplied. Usually a kg of venison is sold for Tk 200 to 300, locals said. Sobahan Bahini and Motaleb Bahini are still very active although their ringleaders went into hiding after several cases were filed against them for deer poaching, said Pathorghata Forest Range Officer Abdul Latif. "Conducting several drives against deer poaching, we rescued seven deer and seized 17 deer skins and 31 kg venison from January to December last year. We also arrested 17 hunters and handed them over to law enforcers," he said. The existing law, which has provision for fining a poacher Tk 500 and awarding him six months jail, is too inadequate to prevent the poachers, he said, adding that they often fail to conduct successful drives due to lack of logistics, especially speedy vehicles. In the latest event on December 30 last year, Pathorghata police seized 15 kg venison when a hunter was preparing to sell it.