Black bear cub rescued in Bandarban after suspected trafficking attempt

A black bear cub, aged around eight to nine months, was rescued from an alley in Alikadam bazaar of Bandarban on Monday after being found abandoned, officials of the Wildlife Crime Control Unit under the Forest Department said.

A four-member team from the unit's Dhaka office conducted the operation and recovered the cub. It was later sent to Cox's Bazar's Dulahazara Safari Park for treatment and care, confirmed Khandaker Ariful Islam, range officer of the Tain Range under Lama Forest Division in Alikadam upazila.

"Locals informed us that a bear cub had been left abandoned in an alley inside Alikadam bazaar. Acting on the tip-off, the Wildlife Crime Control Unit quickly reached the spot and rescued it. After completing necessary paperwork, we handed the animal over to Dulahazara Safari Park," said Ariful Islam.

He said Monday was the weekly market day in Alikadam.

"We suspect a wildlife trafficking ring brought the cub from a remote hill area and attempted to sell it in the market. The team had already taken position in Alikadam after receiving intelligence about possible trafficking. The traffickers perhaps sensed their presence and fled, leaving the cub in a secluded alley."

Inspector Asim Mallik of the Wildlife Crime Control Unit told The Daily Star, "We had information that a trafficking gang collected an endangered black bear cub and was preparing to sell it. Based on that information, four of us, including Abdullah Al Sadiq, travelled from Dhaka to Alikadam."

"Later in the afternoon, locals informed us that a bear cub had been spotted near Panbazar. We immediately rescued it alive," he said.

Inspector Mallik said the cub was transferred safely with support from Lama Forest Division and later sent to the safari park for medical care. Surveillance has been intensified to identify those involved in the trafficking.

Lama Forest Division's Divisional Forest Officer Md Mostafizur Rahman said the rescued cub is estimated to be 8–9 months old.

"It belongs to a globally conservation-sensitive species. An investigation is underway to determine where it was taken from and who is linked to the trafficking ring."

Officials from the Forest Department and Wildlife Crime Control Unit said wildlife trafficking incidents have increased in the hill region in recent months.