A black bear cub, estimated to be around eight to nine months old, was rescued from an alley in Alikadam Bazar, Bandarban, on Monday after being discovered abandoned, according to officials from the Wildlife Crime Control Unit of the Forest Department. Khandaker Ariful Islam, the range officer of Tain Range in Lama Forest Division, mentioned that a team from the unit’s Dhaka office found and rescued the cub, which was then transported to Dulahazara Safari Park in Cox’s Bazar for medical attention and care.
It is suspected that a group involved in wildlife trafficking brought the cub from a remote hill area with the intention of selling it in the market. However, sensing the presence of the Wildlife Crime Control Unit’s team, the traffickers abandoned the cub in a secluded alley and fled. Inspector Asim Mallik of the Wildlife Crime Control Unit stated that surveillance efforts have been heightened to track down the traffickers.
Md Mostafizur Rahman, the Divisional Forest Officer of Lama Forest Division, mentioned that an investigation is currently in progress regarding this incident.