Photo: BSS

BAGERHAT, June 14, 2025 (BSS) - The Forest Department has started using drone technology to protect bio-diversity in the Sundarbans mangrove forest, including stopping wildlife hunting and fishing during prohibited times.

During the Eid-ul-Azha holidays, surveillance began with drones flying over the Sharankhola and Chandpai ranges under the Eastern Sundarbans Division in Bagerhat to monitor forest crimes using modern technology.

From June 1 to August 31, a complete ban is in place on fishing, honey collection, and tourist entry across all rivers and canals of the Sundarbans, to safeguard the breeding season of tigers, deer, fish, and other wildlife. 

The drones are being used to monitor and enforce these restrictions, resulting offenders are being caught.

According to the Sundarbans Division, the use of drones has already begun yielding results. On Thursday afternoon, drones flying over Bayarshing and Shisha canals in the dense forest area under the Jhaphsi patrol outpost of the Chandpai range detected two boats with several fishermen. 

When the Smart Patrolling Team rushed to the scene, the intruders abandoned their boats and fled into the forest. 

Upon searching the boats, forest guards seized a large quantity of illegally caught fish and a bottle of poison, all collected during the restricted period. 

A combing operation is now underway to catch the fishermen who entered the forest illegally to net fish.

Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Eastern Sundarbans Division in Bagerhat, confirmed the development to BSS, saying, “It is for the first time drone surveillance has been conducted in the skies over Sharankhola and Chandpai ranges during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays, and it has already proven effective”.  

However, he noted that once the restricted period ends, tackling illegal fishing with poison and poaching will become a major challenge.

The forest officer also said that identifying fish traders near the Sundarbans who provide toxic substances to poor fishermen in exchange of future catches— and testing fish from their supply in labs followed by strict legal action—could help bring illegal, and poison-based fishing practices under control.