<i>Keshabpur wildlife in danger as forests shrinking fast</i>
A black-mouth monkey sits in front of a tea stall in Tala upazila of Satkhira district as the animals, mainly inhabitants of Keshabpur in Jessore district, often cover long distances in search of food.Photo: STAR
Wildlife in Keshabpur upazila of Jessore district is decreasing fast as forestlands in the area see a gradual depletion, causing the animals and birds suffer from food crisis and loss of habitat. Only two or three decades ago, one could see a number of black-mouth monkeys in the forests of Keshabpur. Different varieties of birds including vulture, dove, kite, nightingale, owl, woodpecker, parrot, pigeon, sparrow, kingfisher and a few rare varieties were also available in the once 'safe haven' for a variety of wildlife. Besides, there were hare, jackal, frog, different varieties of reptiles including cobra and environment-friendly worms including earthworm, ant, white ant and a variety of butterflies in the Keshabpur bush. Forest officials attributed depletion of forestland in Keshabpur to indiscriminate cutting of trees and plants to turn the area into cultivable lands while locals alleged that steps taken by the local administration and forest department are too inadequate. Due to food crisis following unusual decrease of trees and plants in Keshabpur area, the number of monkeys and birds has greatly reduced. In search of foods, black-mouth monkeys often move to human habitations and local people feed them. Even black-mouth monkeys are seen moving near residential areas in Satkhira district, about 40 to 60 kilometres away from Keshabpur. Birds like dove, hawk, mynah, parrot and nightingale are seldom seen in Keshabpur area now. Besides, a variety of environment friendly worms, ants, white ants, butterflies and bees have been lost due to indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and harmful insecticides on gardens and croplands in Keshabpur. Snakes, hares and jackals are also decreasing. As local people used trees and plants as firewood, forest and bush areas in Keshabpur has seen massive destruction during the last three decades, said advocate Kismat Ali of Keshabpur. Local people also catch hares, dove and other birds to eat their meat, forest officials said, adding that the abode of wildlife including monkeys is shrinking and they are facing food problem in Keshabpur like other areas of the country. But the black-mouth monkeys and other wild creatures including birds live in the bushes owned by local people in Keshabpur area and so, the forest officials have very little to do in this regard, they said. Still they are trying to create awareness among the people about the necessity of planting trees and saving wildlife and biodiversity, they added.
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