Bangladesh Wildlife Crime Suppression Unit rescued about 38,000 wild animals from trafficking in the last ten years.
Since the enactment of the “Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act in 2012” and the establishment of the Wildlife Crime Suppression Unit under the Forest Department, about 38,000 live wildlife got rescued during the last ten years.
This information presents at the inaugural function of a training workshop organized by the Wildlife Crime Suppression Unit on 10 April 2022. The 10-day seminar titled
‘ Wildlife Crime Suppression and Wildlife Handling’ holds in the National Botanical Garden conference room in the capital with the volunteers working in wildlife conservation.
As the chief guest, Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests, said, “If we want to save the environment and the world, we have to save the wildlife.
We have to do everything we can to save the wildlife. Due to lack of awareness and various other reasons, many people are killing and hunting wild animals and international criminal gangs involved in Killing and trafficking wild animals.”
“Due to increasing awareness among the people and taking various preventive and legal measures, as the Killing of wild animals is decreasing, so is the smuggling abroad. However, the Killing of wildlife must be completely controlled,” he added.
Dr. Md. Zahidur Rahman Mia, Director of the National Botanical Garden, said, “Killing and trafficking wild animals is a punishable crime.
Those involved in these crimes also involve many other major crimes. Just as those who kill wildlife involve crimes against animals, they also involve environmental destruction.”
“Wildlife trafficking happens worldwide, and there is the illegal trade in this regard. Such crimes are also happening in Bangladesh.
With the vigilant efforts of the Forest Department and other departments of the government and law enforcement agencies, as the trafficking of wildlife and its parts is declining, so is the Killing and hunting of wildlife. As a result, 38,000 live wildlife got rescued in the last ten years,” he added.
Calling on the people to continue their work to protect wildlife and prevent extinction, ASM Zahir Uddin Akon, Director of the Wildlife Crime Suppression Unit, said,
“The Wildlife Crime Suppression Unit is working sincerely for the protection of wildlife. In the last ten years since establishing the Wildlife Crime Suppression Unit and enactment of the Wildlife Conservation Act, more than three hundred and fifty cases have been registered under this Act. Many got arrested in these cases. Many are facing trial. These are the aspects of hope.”
Nargis Sultana, Wildlife Inspector, said, “The Wildlife Crime Suppression Unit was working with minimal workforce. However, they are regularly working with a limited workforce.”
She drew the attention of the authorities to increase the workforce in this unit.
