A spotted deer rescued from a poacher's trap in Sitakunda, Chattogram, is close to death because of the indifference of Md Kamal Hossain, range officer of the coastal forest department, according to the report.

The injured male deer was recovered from the Bogachatar sea coast in the upazila around noon on 4 March. A female deer was found dead the same day. Local people said both deer had been injured after falling into poachers' traps.

After first aid at the local livestock hospital, the injured male was recommended for referral to the Chattogram District Veterinary Clinic for better treatment. But three days later, on Thursday 7 March, it was still lying at the forest department's Sitakunda range office.

On the spot, the badly injured deer was found locked in an enclosed room of the forest department. It is about six years old and weighs around 50 kg. The knee of its left hind leg was completely broken and it could not move. A few leafy branches had been left in front of it as food, but the deer, in obvious pain, paid them no attention.

Upazila livestock officer Dr Tahmina Arzu said one of the deer's hind legs was completely broken and could not be treated there. "I bandaged the leg as best I could and advised that it be sent to the Chattogram District Veterinary Clinic for better treatment. But the forest officer paid no heed. If the injured leg rots, it will not be possible to save the deer."

When told about the need for better treatment, Kamal Uddin, the Sitakunda range officer of the coastal forest department, said no further treatment was needed. "It will be enough to cut off the deer's leg. Just as a person can walk with one leg, so can a deer."

The coastal forest department rescued the two spotted deer, caught in poachers' traps on the Bogachatar coast of Syedpur union in Sitakunda. One of them died, while the other was given first aid at the upazila livestock hospital in an injured state.

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