The forest department has taken a novel step to stop deer poaching in the East Sundarbans. Anyone who hands in the nylon net snares used to catch deer will receive a cash reward of Tk 2,000 for every kilogram of net.

The forest department said the decision was taken because deer poaching had recently increased in the East Sundarbans.

The divisional forest officer (DFO) of the East Sundarbans division, Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, made the announcement soon after taking charge on 30 April.

According to forest department sources, poachers usually make special snares from nylon rope and set them deep in the forest. Deer get caught in them as they run. Fishermen and honey collectors (mouals) are being enlisted to help recover the snares.

Sharankhola range officer Rana Deb said fishermen and honey collectors had been informed. If they see a snare, they must recover it together with the forest guards concerned.

DFO Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said poachers were becoming more active in the Sundarbans and catch deer by setting snares. Because honey collectors move through the deep forest, they can easily spot these snares, so the reward of Tk 2,000 per kilogram of snare net was announced to encourage them to help recover them.

He said he hoped the initiative would bring good results in preventing deer poaching.

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