As many as 20 animals died in the last 10 months at the 30-acre Wildlife Conservation Centre of Tilagarh Eco Park in Sylhet city. Among other reasons, park authorities cite the lack of a residential doctor to be the primary reason for these deaths.
The dead animals include three peacocks, eleven migratory and aquatic birds, a python, foreign fish, and a jungle rabbit.
Sylhet Forest Department official, SM Sazzad Hossain said: "We wrote to higher authorities to promptly appoint a residential doctor and for the time being to shut down the road that goes through the park at night to ensure a safe and suitable environment for the animals.”
The park authorities say their resources are inadequate, but they have nevertheless thoughtfully renovated the cages and the centre premises. They also said most of the animals in the park are in good health and breeding properly, indicating a successful adaptation to the conservation centre.
When asked about the deaths, the park authorities could not point to any particular reason for the deaths of these precious animals acquired from all over the world with much effort.
A few park officials wishing to remain anonymous, blamed the absence of residential doctors and proper animal care, ill planned habitation, negligence, and overall mismanagement, for the deaths of these animals.
They said the conservation centre is inadequate accommodation for these animals and pointed out the ineffectiveness of the cages in which these animals are kept.
Recently, when two deer managed to escape from their cage, local animal rights activists protested, saying the centre lacked doctors, manpower, and adequate logistic support.
Later, one deer was rescued, and was added to a herd of seven Cheetal Deer brought from Ramsagar National Park.
Local animal rights activists say the location of the conservation centre is ill-planned, and added that the busy road through the forest results in air and sound pollution which creates an unsuitable environment and puts the lives of these animals in danger.
Dr Monjur Kader, former veterinary consultant for Wildlife Conservation Hospital, said: “The transportation route should be shut down soon to save these animals. The authorities should have allocated doctors, human resources, and logistic support before the centre's inauguration," adding that the conservation centre is yet to be designated an eco-park, so visitors should be prohibited on the premises as well.”
The wildlife centre began in November, 2018, with 58 animals of nine species including zebra and deer, brought over from Gazipur Safari Park.
