Members of Upokul Poribesh Rokkha Andolon (UPORA), a coastal environment protection movement, rescued an injured black-crowned night heron in Kuakata, Patuakhali, and released it after treatment. Acting on a tip-off, they recovered the sick bird on Saturday morning (29 November) from a chicken shop at Alipur fish port, where it was being held.

After first aid and treatment, UPORA members released the heron after dusk in a safe setting in the Kuakata Ilish Park Eco Resort area.

Present at the rescue and release were UPORA convenor K M Bachchu, Kuakata Press Club president Ruman Imtiaz Tushar, TOAK general secretary Zahirul Islam and forest department Gangamati beat officer Abdur Razzak.

Ruman Imtiaz Tushar said wildlife plays an important role in keeping nature in balance. People must become more aware so that no bird or animal is illegally captured or mistreated, and Kuakata Press Club will always play a part in protecting the environment and wildlife.

K M Bachchu said: "We have long worked to protect the coastal environment and wildlife. This heron was once commonly seen but can now be called fairly rare. If public awareness grows, rescues like this can be carried out faster and more effectively. Everyone must play a responsible part in conserving wildlife."

Gangamati beat officer Abdur Razzak said night herons, like all wildlife, are protected under the conservation law, and capturing, selling or mistreating any animal is a punishable offence. "We are looking into this incident, and awareness activities will be stepped up so such offences do not happen in future," he said.

Mohipur range officer A K M Moniruzzaman said capturing, selling or hunting such birds is completely banned under the wildlife conservation law. Such operations will continue, and he urged people to inform the forest department at once if they see wildlife held captive anywhere.

The black-crowned night heron is a medium-sized nocturnal bird of the family Ardeidae. It is also known locally as "wak", "ratchora", "bajka" or "chakrabak". Its scientific name is Nycticorax nycticorax.

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