The forest department has rescued a fishing cat that entered Komorpur Hajipara village, on the India border in Chakbarkat union of Joypurhat Sadar upazila, and released it into a forest.

On hearing that a fishing cat had entered the village, police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members rushed there on Thursday afternoon. When they and villagers failed to rescue it, the Rajshahi forest department was informed. Its staff came, rescued the fishing cat and released it into another forest nearby.

Eyewitnesses including Laiju, Kutubuddin and Nepal of Komorpur Hajipara said that in the afternoon Shafiqul Islam, a farmer of the village, saw the wild animal in a bamboo grove and shouted to alert locals. As the news spread, people began to gather, and the frightened animal went deeper into the bamboo. Locals believe it may have crossed the border into Bangladesh from a forest in India.

Miladunnabi, inspector of the Chakbarkat police outpost under Joypurhat police station, said police were sent to the spot after locals raised the alarm, for the safety of both the animal and the villagers. The Rajshahi forest department was also informed so it could take the necessary steps.

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