Trawler, large quantity of deer traps seized in Sundarbans

Forest guards have foiled an attempt by deer poachers in the Eastern Sundarbans.

They seized a large number of bags filled with nylon traps and ice used for catching deer, along with a trawler in the Supati forest area on Sunday morning, according to a report received here.

According to forest department sources, forest guards of the Supati Forest Station under the Sharankhola Forest Range of the Eastern Division of the Sundarbans in Bagerhat district spotted an engine-powered trawler moving in the Betmor Gang area (adjacent to Patakata) of the Supati forest area on Sunday (June 21) at around 7 am.

When the forest guards ordered the trawler to stop, the poachers on board abandoned it near the Sundarbans and jumped off, fleeing into the forest.

Later, the forest guards searched the trawler and seized four bags filled with new nylon traps used for catching deer, a quantity of ice specially packed in polythene, a weighing scale for measuring meat, and other equipment.

Md. Shariful Islam (ACF), Range Officer of Sharankhola under the Eastern Division of the Sundarbans, said that an unidentified group of poachers had entered the Supati Sanctuary area of the Sundarbans at night to hunt deer using traps.

Based on advance intelligence, forest guards conducted a raid and foiled the poachers’ attempt, recovering a trawler and bags of traps.

He added that the operation helped save the lives of many deer.