Forest Dept declares Sundarbans closed to visitors for 3 months
UNB
Publish: 01 Jun 2024, 09:48 AM
Bagerhat,
31 May (UNB)- With a view to protecting the wildlife and biodiversity of the
Sundarbans, the Forest Department today announced a ban on entry of visitors to
the forest, which took a big hit from Cyclone Remal last week, for three
months.
The restriction will
apply to visitors, mainly tourists, as well as people who come to work in the
forest for their livelihoods.
"No one will be
allowed to enter the forest from June 1 to August 31. No outsiders can enter
the forest during this time," said Mihir Kumar Doe, forest conservator of
Khulna region.
He said the Forest
Department will be vigilant so that no crime is organized in the forest during
the ban.
According to the Forest
Department, the Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans has 344 species of plants of
different names and sizes.
Besides, it is home to
the Royal Bengal Tiger, spotted deer, Rhesus monkeys, 42 species of mammals,
290 species of birds, 120 species of fish, 35 reptiles, and 8 species of
amphibians.
Of these, 2 species of
amphibians, 14 species of reptiles, 25 species of birds and 5 species of
mammals are currently endangered.
Since Remal hit the
coastal areas on Sunday, the Forest Department has recovered 111 carcasses of
the spotted deer, one of the most cherished creatures of the forest, till
Friday.
Mihir Kumar Doe has been
quoted as saying the Sundarbans faced an unprecedented situation this time
after the cyclone.
Meanwhile, Chief
Conservator of Forests Amir Hossain Chowdhury on Friday said that Mihir Kumar
Doe and divisional forest officers of Sundarban East and West Divisions have
been instructed to list the damage to wild animals and forest plants on the
ground.
END/UNB/Corr/SIS/ssk