Combing operation launched in Sundarbans to deer poaching. Photo: BSS

By SM Zahid Hossain

KHULNA, May 18, 2025 (BSS) - The Forest Department has launched combing operations in the Sundarbans to arrest deer poachers and smugglers, as well as destroy deer traps, following a recent surge in poaching activities in the mangrove forest.

As part of the ongoing combing operation under the East Forest Division, forest guards have recovered a large number of deer traps, venison, and arrested 11 poachers over the past 17 days from various locations.

To curb rampant deer poaching and the smuggling of venison and skeletons, the newly appointed East Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Rezaul Karim Chowdhury initiated a month-long combing operation beginning on May 1.

The Forest Department reports a sharp rise in deer poaching in the Sundarbans in recent months, as poachers are placing nylon net traps deep inside the forest to capture deer.

As part of the operation, forest guards are patrolling the deep jungles of the Sundarbans on foot.

Between May 1 and May 18, they recovered large quantities of deer traps, deer meat, poisoned shrimp, and banned crab-catching traps from the Sharankhola and Chandpai ranges. So far, 11 suspected poachers have been arrested, and several dinghies and trawlers seized in the Chandpai Range.

The seized items include 24 kg of deer traps, 42 kg of deer meat, 70 kg of poisoned shrimp, one bottle of pesticide, 142 illegal crab-catching traps, four dinghies, and five trawlers.

In addition, over 20 kg of deer traps were recovered from the Sharankhola Range, along with a trawler loaded with Sundari wood, leading to the arrest of six more poachers.

Several departmental forest cases have been filed in connection with the incidents under the Sharankhola and Dacope police stations.

Speaking to BSS, DFO Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said significant success has been achieved in the first 18 days of the operation.

As part of the operation, forest guards recovered numerous deer traps and buried them underground near the Shawla River in the Chandpai Range.
Additionally, illegal fishing gear and crab-catching traps were burned and destroyed on the spot.
DFO Rezaul Karim added that the deer population in the Sundarbans has increased in recent years. A survey conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in December 2023 reported the current deer population at 136,604, compared to around 83,000 in 2004-an increase of 53,604 over a decade.

Imran Ahmed, Conservator of Forests (CF), told BSS that some criminals, disguised as fishermen, bawalis, and mouals, are actively engaged in poaching deer and smuggling their body parts to other parts of the country.

"The combing operation has yielded encouraging results in combating recent deer poaching," he said.

He also noted that regular patrolling by forest personnel and law enforcement agencies is playing a significant role in both increasing the deer population and controlling poaching.

Professor Anwarul Kader, Executive Director of the Sundarbans Academy, told BSS that the demand for venison and deer parts is gradually rising among smugglers.

"Poachers have become more desperate as the demand for venison has increased due to its low price in areas surrounding the Sundarbans," he said, adding that the ongoing combing operation will help uproot organized poaching rings.

He also called for regular drives in both divisions of the Sundarbans to rid the forest of poachers, smugglers, and forest robbers.