Death Of Park Animals

Park animal’s mysterious death
Causes little concern and wrath.
Cruel treatment to wild creature
Seldom hints we are kind in nature.

In recent weeks, there were reports of several deaths of animals in different parks across Bangladesh. In some ccases authorities hid true number of death to the press. The news of death caused embarrassment for the government, prompting in-site inspection of concerned ministry. In addition, several committees are formed to probe the deaths.

At the heart of the debate is Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Gazipur. According to a news report, between January 02 and January 30, 11 zebras died mysteriously. In addition, 1 tiger and 1 lion died there^1.

Probe report divulged that 3 zebras succumbed to injuries and the rest died of pneumonia. The cause of pneumonia was due to poisoning that broke their resistance to infectious diseases. The tiger died of anthrax. Two tiger cubs died of diseases spread by fly². This underscores the level of caring these animals were receiving all these years.

Later it was revealed that in two and half months 8 animals also died mysteriously in Dhaka Zoo but the authority only confirmed death of two tiger cubs. On October 30, a zebra calf died. On November 20 and 21,two tiger cubs died. On November 27,a giraffe calf died. On December 10, an impala calf died. On January 15,another giraffe calf died. On January 25 a lion died and on February 01 a wild beast died. But authority confirmed death of two tiger cubs. Investigation carried out by zoo authority revealed that zebra calf, giraffe calf and wild beast died of bacterial infection. Meanwhile fly-spread disease caused death of tiger cubs and lion fell victim of anthrax³.

Our parks and zoos are undermanned and short of technical expertise. It would be naive to put blame squarely on governance and negligence on death of so many animals. But we see most of the death caused by bacterial infection. The way the animals are fed and the way they live in an enclosed environment demand more sanitary precautions so that they could avoid catching infectious diseases. At the same time, it is premature to find scapegoats among the zoo officials while several investigations are going on.

But when it comes to the litmus test of caring animals,we do not fare well. We are not even kinder towards our fellow creatures and it is not right to assume that we will be kind towards animals.

A news report divulged that 33 elephants were killed in 2021 and 20 of them were electrocuted to death. And most of the electrocution took place in Chattogram and Cox's Bazaar,where an elephant trek straddled along Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Makeshift camp, paddy fields, new structures now occupy part of it and obstructed movement of elephants. On several occasions, professional men set up traps to kill elephants. Just look at the number of elephant culling. In 2020, only 12 elephants lost lives at the hands of men. In 2021, the number jumped to 33⁴. The stat does not present us before the world as a kind race towards animal. In fact, such cruelty is an utter display of our savagery.

In many parts of Africa, many tribes take the umbilical chord of the newborn to a jungle and bury it there so that the baby develops some kind of bonding with mother nature. We have not developed yet any such custom. Moreover, there is lack of incentives for taking care of animals in places where wild animals and humans make frequent encounters.

It is construed from the news reports that at this time of the year most of these animals met unfortunate end. If the parks were connected, then they would better respond to the the infectious diseases and share one’s experience with the others.Veterinary surgeons and park officials would be better prepared in such a coordinated environment. I think we have to link office of chief virologist (if we have any) with the parks. So that his office gets an up-to-the-minute account of any new infections in any part of Bangladesh. Death of park animals should not be taken lightly as we witnessed how virus originated from animals caused havoc across the world in the past. Death of these poor creatures should be the occasion to scale up our preparations against nefarious variants of viruses.

Notes And References:

1 “Pranir Proti Obohela Shobshomoy(Animals Are Seldom Taken Care Of)”,Mansura Hossain and Sadiq Mridha,Daily Prothom Alo(p-16),February 05,2022.

2 “Aghat O Bishkriay Zebrar Mrityu(Zebras Died Of Injury And Poisoning)”, Pradip Sarkar and Sadiq Mridha,Daily Prothom Alo,February 07,2022.

3 “Bagh,Singha Soho Aat Prani'r Mrityu Arai Mashe(Eight Animals Including Tiger And Lion Died In Two And Half Months)”, Iftekhar Mahmud, Daily Prothom Alo,February 11,2022.

4 “Peshadar Lok Diye Hati Hotya(Professionals Employed To Cull Elephants)”,Iftekhar Mahmud,Daily Prothom Alo,November 21,2021.Link here

Man Vs Wild III

Strange incidents perish 7 elephants in November.
Reasons of the killing no one bothers to remember.
Redesigning the policy and education hold the key
To change attitude towards the wild in vicinity.

Recently, a news report divulged that indiscriminate killing of elephants has been going on in Bangladesh. In November,7 elephants were killed, making the tally 33 alone this year¹.

Back in November last year,I penned the following piece titled “Man Vs Wild II” in the wake of elephant killing spree. Sharing it again as it is still relevant for today:

Department of forestry and IUCN, as the news report reported, claimed that 11 elephants had been killed in 2020.

It is a shame that this cruelty has been continuing unabated for some years. I was taken aback by another news of BBC. The story said a baby elephant fell inside a well in a village in Tamilnadu, India. Villagers and firefighters did everything to rescue the trapped elephant. Visibly different actions from two culturally close groups of people.

There is no denying that demographics, vegetation, villagers' behavior towards strangers, villagers' behavior towards animal have gone through rapid changes since the influx of Rogingyas. Forests located near the frontier transformed. In the face of accommodation need and agricultural activities, forests waned.Vegetation became thinner. Paddy fields invaded elephant tracks. Poor souls in search of foods trampled along the paddy fields, damaged thatched roofs and killed few villagers, causing worries to farmers. But recent killings did not hint that these were acts of angry villagers. In fact, villagers reported the killings.

Unwarranted hatred and tortures meted out to the elephants need to be probed. Investigative should be started to find out why the recent killings took place.

In one of my earlier pieces titled " Man Vs Wild" , I argued how sustenance of population encroached on forest lands.So habitats for animals are fast disappearing to feed the hungry population. Elephant tracks that straddled along both sides of the border for decades after decades also fell victim to this.

Humans have the ability to find new place to stay, to find new land to till, to convert wild forests into cultivable land, to cut trees to make firewood and to search and grow new crop when the existing ones became hard to find to fill stomach. Unfortunately poor creatures like elephants lack this ability. So they continue to maraude paddy fields, to knock out banana trees, steal crops and attack anything that causes obstacle on its way.

Failure to create symbiotic relationship between man and the wild lies in the flawed incentive structure in our development policies. Redesigning the incentive structure could easily save lives of endangered species and secure their habitats as well. At the same time, agricultural land, small commerce, villages situated in the vicinity of the habitat could also get benefits.

A peasant who receives regular allowance /grant for the damage or loss he sustained from trampling of wild animals will not cause any harm to them. Instead he took great care of them. In addition, he will take great care to the habitats of the animals.

Incentives can be given in many forms. For instance, a village located near a forest can be subject of a school stipend program for children of villagers so that they continue their education. The aim of the stipend program is to induce villagers to take an amiable stance towards the wild.

Financing such incentive programs will not be a difficult task as many bad projects swallow hard-earned money of the tax payers. Diverting these funds to finance the incentive structure will not be a difficult task. Scope of such programs will be small compared to other social security programs as forests are receding fast.

Many primitive society still displays far more greater responsibility towards the nature and the wild than us. In Africa, parents of a newborn of a primitive society take the umbilical cord to a nearby forest and bury it. The ritual is performed so that the baby develops a strong bond to mother nature and performs its duty diligently at later stages of its life.

Education can also play a role to develop some kind of responsibility towards the wild. Textbooks in elementary schools can incorporate stories, fables that inculcate students about rights of animals, developing fondness towards them, importance of protecting their habitats. Education and grooming at an early stage can make a lot of difference in our behavior towards animal and nature at later stages. Incident in Tamilnadu and that in Lohagora furnish the evidence. It is imperative that government and policy makers revise their incentive structure and redesign the policies to protect the wild²

Notes And References:

1 “Peshadar Lok Diye Haty Hotya(Elephants Killed By Professional Poachers)”,Iftekhar Mahmud,Prothom Alo,November 23,2021

2 “Man Vs Wild II”,Rezaul Hoque,November 26,2021,https://hoquestake.blogspot.com Link here

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(19 novembre --- 26 novembre)

Selon un reportage, un étudiant a été tué par frappe d’un camion appartenant à mairie de Dacca nord. Ses amis et étudiants sont descendus dans la rue et ont manifesté contre la tuerie. Avant les étudiants demandent ristourne dans le frais de bus après une étudiante avait été menacée de viol par adjoint de bus.

Selon un reportage, Police mexicaine a secouru 600 migrants dont 37 Bangladais depuis Veracruz.

Selon un reportage, 6 personnes ont été tuées dans la troisième tour d’élection rurale.

Selon un reportage, 33 éléphants dont 20 électrocutés ont été tués dans l’année actuelle. En 2020,20 éléphants ont été tués.

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(05 novembre---12 novembre)

Selon un reportage, grève appelé par patron de bus en signe de protestation contre augmentation du prix de gazole a asphyxié la vie pour 3 jours à travers du pays.

Selon un reportage, violence dans élections municipales a tué 27 personnes et blessé 106. Scrutin dans 10 bureaux de vote a été reporté à cause de violence.

Selon un reportage, un éléphant a été électrocuté à mort à Sherpur.