Wildlife goes hungry as food allocation delayed

Food supply for around 200 creatures of Sonakata Eco-park in Taltali upazila under Barguna district is hampered due to lack of official allocation for the purpose since July this year.

"As regular food supply for the beasts in the eco-park is being hampered since July 1, we are giving food for them through local arrangement," said Md Eunus Ali Farazee, chairman of Sonakata union parishad.

"We are yet to get allocation to supply food in the eco-park for the running fiscal year 2015-16. After getting the allocation, we will give contact to the eligible bidder for the purpose," said Mihir Kumar Doe, Divisional Forest Officer.

"Usually it takes time to place fund at the beginning of new fiscal year and we have to manage food locally for the time being. We got Tk 1.5 lakh in last fiscal year for the purpose," he added.

The forest department set up Sonakata Eco-park on about 10,000 acres of land in Tengragiri reserve forest area of Taltali upazila in 2011-12 fiscal year under ' increase of opportunities in eco-tourism programme' of the forest and environment ministry.

There are around 200 beasts of different species in the eco-park including over 100 monkeys, 10 deer, 25 boars, 25 pythons, three leopards, two crocodiles, and two porcupines.