Khulna, March 10 – Feed crisis deepens at Karamjal Wildlife Reproduction Centre where animals are feared to fail to reproduce, according to the authorities concerned.Centre’s Station Officer (SO) Howladar Azad Kabir said due to the insufficiency of the government’s food allocation, crisis deepens day by day.
In 2002, the government established the Wildlife Reproduction Centre under Bio-Diversity Project to nourish reproduction of estuarine crocodiles, wild deer and monkeys as well as preserve the biodiversity of the Sundarbans’ wildlife.
The centre consists of four breeding centers, a deer and monkey rearing centre, grassland, 18 crocodile protection houses and a pond for crocodiles.
The SO said there are 207 crocodiles and 40 deer for which sufficient feed is not available at present. “So, the animals are provided feed once a day.”
He also said the wild animals are becoming weaker day by day and if the situation continues, those may die.
The caretaker of the Reproduction Centre, Deputy Forest Ranger Abdus Sattar, said the animals at the centre need feed worth of Tk 1.35 lakh every month.
District Forest Officer (DFO) of Sundarbans (East) Mahmudul Hassan said at present allotment of feed is about half of the requirement, causing shortage compared to demand.
He also said in the last fiscal year they requested the concerned authorities for allocating Tk 15 lakh, but the government approved Tk 5.5 lakh and in the current year they have received Tk 9 lakh.
“We have sent a requisition letter to the government again for further allocation and if we get the money, the situation will be eased,” he added. – UNB
