Rare black bear cub rescued in Bandarban

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

"On information, a four-member team from the unit's Dhaka office recovered the cub during a drive and later sent it to Dulahazara Safari Park in Cox's Bazar for treatment and care," said Khandaker Ariful Islam, range officer of Tain Range under Lama Forest Division.

"We suspect a wildlife trafficking ring brought the cub from remote hill area and attempted to sell it in the market. As the Wildlife Crime Control Unit's team took position, the traffickers perhaps sensed their presence and fled, leaving the cub abandoned in a secluded alley," he added.

Surveillance has been intensified to identify the traffickers, said Inspector Asim Mallik of the Wildlife Crime Control Unit.

Lama Forest Division's Divisional Forest Officer Md Mostafizur Rahman said an investigation is underway in this connection.