The student environmental organisation Team for Energy and Environmental Research (TEER) has rescued four fishing cat cubs from Chapadah village in Gaibandha Sadar upazila. TEER members later released the cubs.

Md Zahid Raihan, president of TEER's Gaibandha Government College unit, confirmed the matter to Jagonews on the morning of 30 September.

He said a house belonging to the nephew of Chapadah businessman Palash Mia had been locked for a long time. When the household opened the door on Friday evening, they found the fishing cat cubs without their mother. TEER members rescued the cubs that night. Taking part in the rescue were Md Jisan Mahmud, former president of TEER's Gaibandha Government College unit, current president Md Zahid Raihan, vice-president Md Mosharraf Hossain and member Md Soyaib Islam Badhon.

To confirm the species, photos and videos of the cubs were sent to the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Division in Rajshahi, which confirmed they were fishing cat cubs. The four cubs were then released into a suitable habitat at around 12 midnight on Friday.

Md Jisan Mahmud, former president of TEER's Gaibandha Government College unit, told Jagonews that the fishing cat is listed as an endangered species by the IUCN, the global organisation working on animal research, and is in a precarious state in Bangladesh.

Md Zahid Raihan told Jagonews: "People who used to stay silent even when birds were hunted in front of them are becoming aware after seeing our work and are helping with rescues. We want to build an environment-friendly Gaibandha rich in biodiversity, with everyone on board."

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