Forest officials rescue spotted deer from poachers snare in Sundarbans

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Forest department officials in the Sundarbans rescued a spotted deer Thursday after it became ensnared in a poacher’s trap within the Satya Pir Khal area of the Khulna range. The animal’s desperate cries drew the attention of patrolling guards, who discovered the deer suspended in a “chhitka” trap—a lethal device that tightens a rope noose around an animal’s limb as it struggles to break free. After providing emergency medical care, forest officials released the deer back into the dense wilderness.

During the same patrol, conducted under a parallel line searching operation that spanned approximately two kilometers, officials dismantled and recovered 12 additional poaching traps from the vicinity. While no suspects were apprehended during the operation, Nasir Uddin, an official at the Kashiyabad Forest Station, confirmed the details of the rescue on Friday, noting that the animal had been near exhaustion when it was freed.

“Chhitka” traps, which utilize tensioned tree branches and high-strength rope, are frequently deployed by poachers to lift animals off the ground, causing the noose to cinch tighter with every movement. Poachers also commonly employ “mala” traps, which consist of circular wire loops placed along wildlife trails. According to local residents in the nearby Mathbari and Koyra villages, these traps are often used to secure animals, which are subsequently slaughtered within the forest before the meat is illicitly transported to local markets.

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Sundarbans West Divisional Forest Officer, Hasanur Rahman, urged the public to refrain from purchasing venison or providing refuge to poachers. Rahman emphasized that the forest is currently in the midst of a wildlife breeding season, during which entry for tourists and forest-dependent workers is prohibited.

To combat illegal hunting, the forest department has intensified patrols and implemented a financial incentive program for informants. Individuals who provide information leading to the apprehension of poachers inside the forest are eligible for a reward of 20,000 taka, while tips leading to arrests outside the forest boundaries are rewarded with 10,000 taka.