Deer flourish in Sundarbans, so do the poachers who hunt them

Photo: Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman

In the dappled light of the world’s largest mangrove forest, spotted deer have become a strikingly common sight.

Once known for their elusive nature, these graceful animals now appear in growing numbers along the canals and rivers that snake through the dense Sundarbans.

For visitors, accustomed to catching only fleeting glimpses, the change is both surprising and welcome.

Locals and forest officials alike report that the deer population seems to have increased in recent years.

Tourists, who once had to tread cautiously and wait patiently for a rare encounter, now frequently spot herds moving about—even in broad daylight—near popular tourist spots and forest department outposts.

Yet the proliferation of deer does not necessarily signify a sanctuary free from peril. Instead, conservationists warn, the risk to the species has only intensified since the onset of winter, when the hunting of deer typically surges.

Residents of the Sundarbans say demand for venison has grown, largely because it is more affordable than beef or mutton. This economic lure has emboldened poachers, whose activities have been difficult to curb despite efforts by law enforcement.

Several individuals have been arrested in recent weeks, caught in possession of deer meat and skins smuggled from the forest.

“The number of deer poached is several times greater than the amount of deer meat and hides seized by law-enforcing agencies,” said Prof Anwarul Qadir, executive director of the Sundarbans Academy in Khulna.

Authorities, however, offer a somewhat different perspective.

Mihir Kumar Do, chief conservator of forests in Khulna, acknowledges that poaching remains a problem but contends that it is less rampant than in previous years.

He attributes the more frequent sightings of deer to broader ecological shifts.

“The biodiversity of the Sundarbans has changed over the past few years,” he said.

“Deer are now visible almost everywhere, something that was rare before. Tourists are even spotting tigers along with them.”

DEER POPULATION INCREASES BY 53,604 IN 19 YEARS

According to a December 2023 survey conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, or IUCN, the Sundarbans is now home to 136,604 deer, a notable increase from the 83,000 recorded in 2004.

Two species of deer, Maya and Chitra, inhabit the Sundarbans, with Chitra, or spotted deer, comprising the majority of the population.

In 19 years, the deer population has increased by 53,604.

Mihir attributed the population growth to the declining presence of bandits in the forest and the cessation of large-scale human gatherings, such as the annual Ras Mela festival at Dublarchar, which previously attracted over 50,000 visitors.

The influx of people had led to rampant poaching, as authorities struggled to maintain order with limited manpower.

“Now, due to regular patrols by law-enforcing agencies and the forest department, a reduction in bandits, and the closure of the Ras Mela, deer poaching has decreased to a large extent compared to before,” Mihir said.

The government has implemented a strict stance against poachers, increasing surveillance and offering financial incentives for information leading to arrests.

Those who provide tips on poaching activities inside the forest are eligible for a reward of Tk 20,000, while information regarding crimes outside the forest carries a Tk 10,000 reward.

“The general public is now encouraged to report poachers, and this has been instrumental in protecting wildlife,” Mihir added.

OVER 30 ACTIVE POACHING GANGS

Koyra is the southernmost coastal Upazila of Khulna.

Surrounded by the Kapotakkha, Koyra and Shakbaria rivers on three sides, all seven Unions of the Upazila are located within the Sundarbans.

Most of the villages in the Upazila are inhabited by people who work. At least someone from each family is involved in Sundarban-centric work.

According to local residents, more than 30 poaching gangs operate in the area, slaughtering deer in staggering numbers.

The organised networks have turned the forest’s interior into a hunting ground, evading authorities while fueling a clandestine market for venison.

The worst-hit areas, residents say, include the Anttihara and Jorshing regions of South Bedkashi Union, where poachers have established strongholds.

Smugglers use the Bajbaja and Khasitana forest patrol outpost areas as their primary corridors, slipping past authorities to transport their illicit haul.

Beyond these hotspots, the crisis extends across the Upazila.

Villages in Maheshwaripur, Koyra Sadar, Uttar Bedkashi, and Maharajpur Unions have reported the presence of deer poachers, their activities stretching deep into the Sundarbans’ wilderness.

Habi Sardar, a resident of South Bedkashi, described how poachers operate.

“Once you cross a small river, you reach the deep jungle,” he said.

“They go in secretly, set up nylon rope traps, and wait. The deer get caught while moving through the forest, and before the forest guards can intervene, the meat is sold off in secret.”

The problem is not confined to Koyra alone.

Abul Bashar, local journalist and a resident of Nalian village in Dakop Upazila, said that deer hunters identified in Ramnagar, Banishanta, Sutarkhali and Kalabogi villages hunt deer regularly.

According to Bashar, during the high tide of the river, 20 to 25 people enter the Sundarbans in groups at night and during the day to hunt deer.

In addition, deer hunters are active in Mongla’s Chila, Joymoni, Baidyamari, Katakhal Kul, Banshtala, Katakhali; Morrelganj’s Jiudhara, Gulishakhali, Sanyasi; Sharankhola’s Dhansagar, Tafalbari, Sonatala, Panirghat, Rajapur, Rasulpur, Chalitabunia, and several other villages of Satkhira’s Shyamnagar Upazila.

VENISON SOLD FOR TK 500 - TK 600

Residents of Moheswaripur Union, a remote settlement on the forest’s edge, describe a well-oiled network of poachers, traders, and clandestine buyers who traffic in deer meat and body parts.

Middlemen coordinate the trade, sometimes securing advance orders, other times seeking buyers after the hunt.

Despite its illegality, demand for venison remains high. In villages near the Sundarbans, deer meat sells for Tk 500 to Tk 600 per kg, but in district towns, where it is a rarer delicacy, prices climb to between Tk 1,000 and Tk 2,000. A live deer can fetch between Tk 15,000 and Tk 20,000.

The business is not without its own peculiarities. Buyers, wary of fraud, often insist on seeing the animal before committing to a purchase. In response, poachers bring live deer into local communities, slaughtering them in front of customers to confirm their authenticity.

POACHERS & SMUGGLERS ROAM FREE

The Chitra deer continues to fall victim to poachers, despite laws prohibiting the hunting of wildlife in the vast mangrove forest, conservationists say.

Anwarul Qadir said that while the killing of tigers has declined in recent years, poaching of deer—tigers’ primary prey—remains rampant.

"A few groups are violating the law by hunting the main attraction of the Sundarbans, the Chitra deer," he said.

Authorities occasionally recover deer meat, skins, and heads in raids, but the main perpetrators often evade capture, Qadir noted.

"In most cases, only those carrying the meat are arrested. And even when poachers are caught, weak legal provisions allow them to return from jail within days and resume their activities."

The Bangladesh Coast Guard recently arrested six men in possession of 11 kg of deer meat, officials said.

Acting on a tip-off, the suspects were detained in January near the Mongla ferry terminal while traveling in a microbus bound for Dhaka, according to Lt Mushfiq Us Salehin, spokesperson for the Coast Guard’s West Zone.

Earlier, on Jan 3, local residents in Koyra Upazila apprehended a young man, Iqbal Morol, after discovering about 30 kg of deer meat in his possession. The 23-year-old, a resident of Paikgasa's Kopilmuni Union, was later handed over to police.

During questioning, Iqbal claimed that he had purchased the meat for Tk 2,400 from Monirul Islam, a known deer hunter from the Sundarbans-adjacent region of Koyra, according to Koyra Police Station’s OC GM Imdadul Haque.

Mihir said that deer movement increases during the dry season as water sources within the Sundarbans shrink, making the animals more vulnerable to poachers.

"While isolated incidents of hunting persist, the frequency is lower than before," Mihir said.

"But with limited manpower, controlling crime in such a vast forest remains a significant challenge for the forest department."