The Cox's Bazar South Forest Division has rescued 83 egrets in Ukhia upazila of Cox's Bazar and released them. On Sunday morning (17 October), 77 egrets were rescued in a drive at Kutupalong beel in Ukhia led by the forest department's Ukhia range officer, Gazi Shafiul Alam.

The rescued egrets were then released into the open sky in the presence of Ukhia upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Nizam Uddin. Ukhia range officer Gazi Shafiul Alam, a beat officer and other forest department officials were present.

Forest department sources said bird hunters were catching and selling egrets at Kutupalong beel in the Ukhia range on Sunday morning when they realised forest officials were coming and fled. The 77 egrets were rescued from there.

The same day, Cox's Bazar South Forest Division's divisional forest officer Sarwar Alam, on his way to the Thainkhali area, saw six egrets in the hands of a Rohingya youth in the Dhala area of Balukhali. When he asked for the vehicle to stop, the youth left the birds and fled. The birds were recovered and released into the natural surroundings of the range office.

Divisional forest officer Md Sarwar Alam said birds help us protect the environment. It is now the winter season, and migratory birds and other species will be seen in the country. These birds must not be killed but kept alive for the sake of the environment. He said they would take the necessary steps to protect birds, and that those who hunt birds and animals in Ukhia and other areas would be identified and brought to justice.

So far, 181 egrets have been rescued and released through the efforts of Ukhia range forest officials.

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