We have recovered the dead bodies of 127 deer and four wild boars from the sundarbans affected by Cyclone Remal. In addition, we rescued 18 injured deer and one python. We later released these animals back into the forest.
Khulna region forest conservator Mihir Kumar Dey gave this information on Friday (May 31) night.
Mihir Kumar Dey also said that the Sundarbans have suffered a lot due to Cyclone Remal’s ravages. Tidal water has inundated most of the Sundarbans. All the salt water has entered the freshwater ponds.
Following the storm, authorities recovered 127 dead deer bodies from various areas, including Katka, Kachikhali, Karamjal, Pakshir Char, Dim Char, Shelarchar, and Coconut Bariya. We found the carcasses of four wild boars. These bodies have been buried. Additionally, we rescued 18 live deer and a live python from various locations and reintroduced them into the forest.
Meanwhile, the forest department has announced a ban on the entry of tourists and foresters for three months to protect the movement and reproduction of fish and forest animals in the rivers, canals of the Sundarbans. From June 1 to August 31, the forest will remain closed to foresters, the general public, and tourists.
As the breeding season for fish has started, access to the Sundarbans has been declared closed for three consecutive months to ensure the safety of the forest rivers and canals the unhindered movement of wild animals, and breeding activities. During this time, the entry of tourists including net boats and boats, the movement of common people and all activities, including fishing in the rivers and canals inside the Sundarbans will be prohibited.
The Sundarbans Fisheries Department’s Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) recommended a two-month ban on fishing in all rivers and canals from July 1 to August 31, 2019. However, in 2022, the Fisheries Department, in coordination, extended the ban by one month to three months starting from June 1. Since then, we have closed all rivers and canals of the forest for fish collection, reproduction, and the movement of wild animals for three months, from June 1 to August 31.
According to the information from the Forest Department and Fisheries Office, now is the breeding season for 251 species of fish in the Sundarbans. Therefore, the forest department will stop issuing all types of permits to fishermen. We will close all types of boats in forest rivers and canals to prevent disruptions to fish spawning. Apart from this, there are 315 species of birds, 35 species of reptiles, and 42 species of mammals in the forest. The breeding season is currently underway. These animals include tigers, deer, pigs, monkeys, crocodiles, dolphins, vultures, forest cats and mechho tigers and other animals.
The three months from June to August are considered the breeding season for fish in the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans, according to Mihir Kumar Do, the forest conservator of the Khulna region. During these three months, most of the fish in the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans lay their eggs. Aside from that, this is also the breeding season for wild animals. If tourists and fishermen do not visit the forest during these three months, its biodiversity and wild animals will be protected. The loss of fauna and biodiversity in the Sundarbans due to Cyclone Remal’s rampage will be quickly reversed in the next three months if the rivers, canals and forests are not visited by tourists. The Sundarbans of Bangladesh, known as the court of the world, will get a new life.