Animals entering localities
Due to worsening food crisis in Lawachara National Park, various species of wild animals, including pythons and other reptiles, are increasingly leaving the forest and entering nearby human settlements. As a result, frequent human-wildlife encounters are occurring in the surrounding areas.
From May 3 to May 31 this year, a total of 14 wild animals were rescued from different areas of the upazila and safely released back into the forest by the Srimangal-based voluntary organization, Banyen Prani Sheba Foundation.
All animals were returned in completely safe condition after rescue operations.
The foundation’s director, Sajal Dev, along with environmental activist Rajdeep Dev, jointly rescued various species of wild animals from homes, businesses, and populated areas across the upazila.
The rescued animals included pythons, gokhara snakes, shy monkeys, and phonimonsa snakes. In addition, several injured and sick animals were also rescued and provided with necessary medical treatment and care.
He said, “After providing primary treatment and observation in accordance with proper procedures, we voluntarily handed over the rescued animals to the Forest Department.”
He further added, “At present, as the distance between human settlements and wildlife habitats is gradually decreasing, various animals are frequently entering localities. In such a situation, our organization is working to raise awareness so that people do not kill or harm these animals, and instead inform the concerned authorities so they can be safely rescued and returned to nature.”
Lawachara, the country’s only evergreen rainforest, is located in Kamalganj and Srimangal upazilas of Moulvibazar district. The Lawachara Reserve Forest covers an area of about 1,250 hectares and was declared a national park in 1996. It is one of the most important protected forest ecosystems in Bangladesh.
According to biodiversity records, Lawachara National Park is home to around 460 species of biodiversity, including 167 species of plants, 4 species of amphibians, 6 species of reptiles, 246 species of birds, 20 species of mammals, and 17 species of insects. Due to various ongoing environmental and human-related problems, many of these species are now under serious threat, with some on the verge of extinction.
The park, which has long struggled to maintain its ecological balance, is now facing increasing pressure with no comprehensive or permanent solution in place to address these ongoing crises. As a result, long-term degradation of habitat conditions is becoming more severe.
The habitat, food sources, and safe movement corridors for rare wildlife species are continuously shrinking. This reduction in available space and resources is forcing animals to move closer to human settlements in search of food and shelter. Consequently, populations of several wildlife species and plant diversity are declining day by day.
According to the range officer of the Nature Conservation Department, one of the major reasons for wildlife deaths in Lawachara is the road and railway line that pass through the forest.
He also pointed out that tourist pressure, excessive movement of visitors into deep forest areas, and reckless driving on internal roads are making the environment unsafe for wildlife. As a result, animals are increasingly forced to move toward nearby villages and towns.
He added that due to a lack of awareness, many wild animals that enter localities are killed by humans instead of being safely rescued.
Wildlife enthusiast Khokan Singh also said, “As forest areas shrink, wild animals are losing their natural habitat day by day. As a result, they are coming into localities. Some come in search of food, some are rescued, and unfortunately, some are killed.”
He further noted that a five-kilometer railway line runs directly through Lawachara forest, which is rich in biodiversity. In addition, a road also passes through the forest. A significant number of wild animals are frequently killed or injured by trains and vehicles on these routes.
BAPAR (Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon Parishad) Moulvibazar District Coordinator A.N.M. Saleh Suhel said, “A group of organized illegal loggers is indiscriminately cutting trees in the forest, which has created an extreme food crisis for wildlife. It is necessary to stop tourists from driving vehicles inside the forest, using loud sound systems, and entering deep forest areas.”
He also added that in many cases, lemon orchards, houses, and shops are being illegally constructed near or inside forest land. As a result, tourist movement has increased uncontrollably, and vehicles frequently pass through forest areas, causing disturbance to wildlife.
Due to constant human activity and movement, the safe habitat of animals is shrinking, and the natural environment is being severely disrupted.
Journalist Praneet Ranjan Debnath from Kamalganj said, “Wild animals do not willingly enter human settlements. We are destroying forests day by day and encroaching on their habitats for personal gain, creating living spaces for ourselves at their expense.”
He added that many lemon and pineapple orchards have been established inside Lawachara forest by encroaching forest land. These plantations use toxic chemicals, which are washed into forest streams and pollute the water.
As a result, many animals die after drinking contaminated water from these streams. He further said that due to continuous encroachment by influential groups, the habitat of wild animals is shrinking and their food crisis is worsening.
He emphasized that illegal cutting and smuggling of forest trees are also major reasons for habitat destruction. Because of these pressures, wild animals are increasingly forced to move into nearby localities in search of food.
Experts and environmental activists stress the urgent need to protect Lawachara National Park and its wildlife. They also highlight the importance of raising awareness among local communities, media workers, and visitors to prevent further damage.
According to the Forest Department, Lawachara forest is home to 20 species of mammals, 59 species of reptiles (including 39 species of snakes, 18 species of lizards, and 2 species of turtles), 22 species of amphibians, 246 species of birds, and numerous insects.
Rare primates such as the capped langur (locally known as Hanuman) and the spectacled langur are also found in this protected forest. Other wildlife includes monkeys, fishing cats, wild dogs, bears, muntjac (barking deer), wild goats, turtles, pythons, and various other species.
Bird species include green pigeons, forest fowl, pheasants, hawks, white-browed falcons, eagles, green magpie, black-headed jay, drongos, owls, finches, and other forest birds.
Among commonly seen birds are various species of jays, green barbets, parakeets, cuckoos, and others.
Wildlife experts and environmentalists, including photographer Khokan Singh, consider the railway and roads passing through Lawachara as “death traps” for wildlife. He said that for a long time, conservation groups have been demanding the relocation of roads and railways outside the forest.
He concluded that without relocating these infrastructures, effective protection of wildlife in Lawachara will not be possible.
