Two kittens of endangered leopard cats rescued, trafficker arrested

The Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division of the Forest Department rescued two kittens of an endangered leopard cat from the Bakalia area in Chattogram while being sold online and arrested a trafficker in this connection yesterday (30 January).

The arrested was identified as Mohammad Sakib Bin Islam, 21, a resident of Sadaha union of Satkania upazila in Chattogram.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division along with members of Wildlife and Snake Rescue Team Bangladesh conducted a raid in the Kalamia Bazara area of Bakalia police station in the city at about 4:30pm and rescued the endangered wild animals.

Dipannita Bhattacharjee, biodiversity and nature conservation officer of the division, said a youth was trying to sell two kittens of leopard cats on an online platform just for Tk10,000.

"Receiving the tip, a team of Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division led by Sadar Range Officer Mohammad Ismail launched the raid and managed to rescue the kittens. The team also arrested the wildlife trafficker," she added.

"The arrested was produced before the court after filing a case under the Wildlife Conservation and Security Act, and the rescued kittens are in the custody of the Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division. The kittens are now a little weak. They will be released in nature once their health condition is stable," she added further.

The leopard cat is a small wild cat native to continental South, Southeast, and East Asia. Since 2002, it has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List as it is widely distributed, although threatened by habitat loss and hunting in parts of its range.

However, in the Bangladesh Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012, the leopard cat has been listed as a protected wild animal.