Dead bodies of 100 animals recovered in Sundarbans, 96 were deer

Terrible Cyclone Remal left but left memories and scars. Which is becoming clear gradually. The remal rampage has caused major damage to the vast Sundarbans' livestock. Dead bodies of various wild animals including magical deer are being recovered every day.

Last Thursday (May 30), the forest department recovered the carcasses of one hundred animals including deer, python and pig. Most of it is deer.

The people concerned say that due to Remal, the water level of rivers and streams increased by four to five feet and flooded the Sundarbans. As a result, on the one hand drowning in water, on the other hand it is believed that these wild animals may die due to drinking salt water. But how many animals died? The exact death toll may be known in a few more days after the search is completed in all the deep forests of the forest.

Sources of the Sundarban Forest Department said that in addition to the death of wild animals in the East and West Forest Divisions of the Sundarbans, the forest station office, camp and watch tower were also severely damaged due to the impact of the landslide. The wireless tower for communication between forest department officials and employees inside the forest has also been damaged. Hundreds of freshwater ponds have been submerged in brackish water.

Khulna Region Conservator of Forests (CF) Mihir Kumar Do said that 100 dead bodies of Sundarbans including 96 deer and four pigs have been recovered till Thursday afternoon due to Cyclone Remal. The dead deer were buried in Katka sanctuary area. Besides, 18 live deer and a python have been rescued. Which has been released in the forest.

He also said that due to the effect of Cyclone Remal, all the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans overflowed and flooded vast areas of the forest. It is initially believed that the deer could not swim to the bottom of the Sundarbans and died due to tidal water. Besides the deer, more wildlife may die. Forest guards are active in searching for those dead animals.

He said that tin sheds, windows and doors, solar panels, wireless systems and infrastructure of the forest department's patrol offices were damaged in the storm. The jetty and pond at the office ghat of Eastern Forest Division's Cuttack Sanctuary have disappeared into the Bay of Bengal. 25 patrols of various forest offices including Dubla, Katka, Kochikhali, Bagi and other outpost kitchens have blown up tin sheds. As the 80-10 feet high tide inundated 80 fresh water source ponds of Sundarbans into brackish water, the forest workers as well as the animals are facing fresh water shortage.

The initial amount of damage including destruction of forest infrastructure and other damages will be over 6 crore 27 lakh rupees.

Howladar Azad Kabir, officer-in-charge of the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center of Sundarban East Forest Division, said that the wild animals of Sundarban are used to the tide. Usually, during high tide, wildlife takes shelter in high places and trees. Due to the impact of Cyclone Remal, there has been high water inundation in the forest. As a result, the high places of the forest are subsiding, and the animals have difficulty finding shelter. Due to high tide, the deer died because they could not take safe shelter.

He said that the Sundarbans have been damaged as a result of the cyclone. Forest trees and branches were broken by strong winds and several wild animals were also killed. There was about six to seven feet of water in the forest. As a result, the number of wildlife deaths has also increased.

Executive Director of Sundarban Academy Prof. Anwarul Kadir said, Sundarban is holding us like a mother. He himself was injured during the storm. Plants are uprooted, wildlife is dead. But the coast did not suffer much damage.