Migratory birds are facing illegal hunting and online sales in the haor areas of Sylhet, where social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp facilitate the transactions. Videos circulated by hunters depict birds being captured and sold live, with prices negotiated via livestream before they are slaughtered and delivered locally or transported more widely using fish trucks.
This alarming trend has caught the attention of local authorities and environmental experts, with reports indicating that around 40-50 professional hunters operate in Tanguar Haor. Despite laws stipulating severe penalties under the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act-2012 for such offenses, enforcement remains weak, prompting calls for better monitoring and action against the lucrative trade that threatens the survival of these migratory species.
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