74 wild animals rescued from Dinajpur's Shopnopuri Artificial Amusement Park
The rescued animals include Hoolock Gibbons, Asiatic Black Bears, Capped Langurs, Greater Hornbills, Slow Lorises, otters and various species of snakes and turtles
The Forest Department has rescued 74 wild animals from an illegal zoo in Shopnopuri Artificial Amusement Park in Nawabganj upazila of Dinajpur
The Forest Department's Wildlife Crime Control Unit and the Social Forestry Division of Dinajpur rescued the animals in a drive on Sunday (26 January) morning.
The rescued animals include Hoolock Gibbons, Asiatic Black Bears, Capped Langurs, Greater Hornbills, Slow Lorises, otters and various species of snakes and turtles, Wildlife Inspector Abdullah As Sadiq confirmed to The Business Standard.
Some of the animals were found injured during the raid, he said.
"These wild animals have been illegally kept in the park for a long time. Necessary legal action will be taken against those concerned after a preliminary investigation under the Wildlife Conservation Act," Sadiq added.
He said necessary steps will be taken to rescue and rehabilitate the seized animals. "Local people have been urged to be more aware of wildlife conservation."
The wildlife inspector also stated that the park authorities could not provide any legal permits to keep the animals there.
"The park manager was questioned after the raid and an investigation is underway," he said.