The Forest Department has rescued 12 endangered Langur or Hanuman caged in an abandoned house on Moheshkhali Island, Cox’s Bazar.
These Hanumans, typically found roaming the mountains of Moheshkhali, were believed to have been captured for illegal trafficking.
The rescue operation occurred on Thursday, November 7, around 2:30 p.m., in the Bariachari area of Shaplapur. The Hanumans were discovered locked in cages at a deserted hillside residence.
Shaplapur Beat Officer Nure Alam Mia Nahid confirmed the rescue, stating that the Forest Department acted swiftly upon receiving information about an attempt to smuggle endangered wildlife from the Moheshkhali hills.
Investigations are underway to identify those involved in the trafficking network, and necessary actions will be taken, he assured.
Under Bangladesh’s Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act of 2012, the Hanuman langur is a protected species, and harming or killing it is a punishable offence.
Shaplapur and Choto Moheshkhali are Moheshkhali’s most mountainous areas, where wildlife roams freely.
However, deforestation and hunting have severely threatened the biodiversity of these hills, pushing several species toward extinction.
Photo: Abdur Rashid Manik
