The Wildlife Crime Control Unit has raided the Monorama mini zoo in the border area of Mujibnagar upazila in Meherpur.

The raid was carried out on Sunday afternoon (25 May) and 27 wild animals were rescued. Several animals suited to the local environment were released, and the raiding team took the rest with them.

The rescued animals included two hanuman langurs, two monkeys, eight kalem (purple swamphens), a porcupine, a python, a harial (green pigeon), four munia birds, a parakeet, a turtle and four whistling ducks.

Wildlife inspector Abdullah Al Sadik of the Wildlife Crime Control Unit said the unit is carrying out a series of raids on zoos, resorts and mini parks across the country, wherever wild animals are found. The raid on the Monorama mini zoo in Mujibnagar was part of this. Of the 27 animals rescued, the monkeys, langurs, turtle, porcupine, parakeet, harial, whistling ducks and munia birds, which suit Meherpur's environment, were released. The python and the kalem birds were taken away and will also be released in suitable habitat, he said.

From January to this month, raids have been carried out at eight mini zoos across the country, including Montu Mia's garden house and Swapnapuri, and 76 wild animals have been rescued. The officer warned that those involved in wildlife trafficking will be brought to justice, however powerful they are. Wildlife inspector Asim Mollik and members of the Dhaka unit took part in the raid.

The owner of the Monorama mini zoo, Tahaj Uddin, said he bought the animals and the zoo from another owner a year and a half ago and knows nothing about its licence. "I have kept the papers they gave me carefully. I showed them, but it was no use," he said.

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