A mukhpora hanuman, a langur, is wandering through human settlements in Bhangura upazila of Pabna. Curious crowds are gathering to see the animal, which belongs to an endangered species. But local people say neither the forest department nor the wildlife conservation department has made any move to rescue it.

Locals said the animal has been seen in different parts of Bhangura for several days, including Bhangura Bazar, Sharatnagar Bazar, College Para, Choubaria Master Para and Mondal Mor. Passers-by are handing it bananas, biscuits and other fruit. Once it has eaten, it climbs back into a tree or onto a rooftop. Residents fear for its life now that it has suddenly come into a populated area.

Several people in the area said that if this goes on, the langur will die for lack of food, and some people might even kill it out of fear, not understanding it.

Local schoolteacher Abdus Sabur said that last Wednesday he saw the langur sitting on the bridge over the Gumani river at Noubaria village in Bhangura. The animal was starving. Large numbers of curious people were watching in amazement and following it around, and some were bothering it while taking photos and videos. Packs of dogs were also chasing it from time to time.

"Perhaps it climbed onto a banana truck in Jashore and came here unknowingly," he said. "It hurts to see the langur in this plight."

Upazila Forest Officer A Zahid Hossain said the langur may have strayed from its troop and entered the settlement. Such animals usually come from the forest into populated areas for lack of food, and in time they wander back, rejoin their troop and return to the forest. He advised people not to disturb the langur and to keep their distance from it, and said he would talk to senior officials about rescuing it.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.