Mongla, Jan 04 (V7N) — A Royal Bengal Tiger has become trapped in a deer-hunting snare set by poachers deep inside the Sundarbans forest, adjacent to the Shorkir Khal area near Mongla. The Forest Department is set to begin a rescue operation with expert assistance on Sunday morning.

Assistant Conservator of Forests of the Chandpai Range under the Sundarbans East Forest Division, Dipan Chandra Das, said the tiger was caught in a wire snare laid by illegal hunters inside the forest along the bank of Shorkir Khal, located between the Biddamari and Joymoni areas. Forest officials rushed to the site on Saturday afternoon after receiving the information and confirmed that the tiger was indeed trapped.

Following the discovery, forest personnel cordoned off the Shorkir Khal area to prevent public access and ensure safety. According to officials, the tiger is trapped approximately half a kilometer inside the forest from the canal bank.

As part of precautionary measures, blank shots were planned to be fired late Saturday night to create noise and discourage the tiger from attempting to move aggressively from the site. Despite this, a veterinary surgeon from the Forest Department is being brought from Dhaka to conduct the rescue operation.

The veterinarian is expected to arrive on Sunday morning, after which the rescue will formally begin. Officials said a tranquilizer dart will be used to sedate the tiger. Once tranquilized, the animal is expected to remain unconscious for around 30 minutes, during which time it will be carefully freed from the snare.

If the tiger is found to have sustained injuries or is otherwise unwell, it will be rescued and placed in an iron cage before being transferred to a Forest Department rescue center in Khulna or Dhaka for further treatment.

The Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to the world’s largest population of Royal Bengal Tigers, and forest officials have reiterated their commitment to combating poaching and ensuring the safety of wildlife in the region.

END/AHS/SMA/