Declared a national park in 1996, Lawachara in Moulvibazar’s Kamalganj upazila is a vital natural sanctuary. Yet this 1,250-hectare forest now faces mounting challenges that threaten to erode its distinctive wildlife and character.

Theft of valuable timber, bamboo and cane is now routine. The forest has thinned, much of its land has been encroached upon and wildlife populations have dwindled.

As food grows scarcer, animals frequently leave the park for human settlements.

The Forest Department puts the district’s forest land at 21,500 hectares, whereas the district’s Department of Agricultural Extension records 30,665 hectares, accounting for 11 percent of the total area. The tracts encompass two ecoparks, a national park and extensive reserved forests.

Lawachara National Park is home to several rare and endangered wildlife in Bangladesh. The reserved forests of Rajkandi, the Patharia Hills and Lathitila also shelter numerous rare species, while the Hakaluki and Hail haors and other wetlands across the district support diverse bird populations and other fauna.

According to the Forest Department, Lawachara alone supports 246 bird species, 22 amphibians, 20 mammals and 59 reptiles including 39 snakes, 18 lizards and two turtle species, alongside 167 plant species and countless insects.

Bangladesh classifies the hoolock gibbon as critically endangered, and Lawachara is renowned for the primate. Other threatened species in Moulvibazar’s forests include the capped langur, pig-tailed macaque, wild dog, bear, muntjac, serow, golden turtle and python.

Acute food and habitat shortages, however, are driving down their numbers at an alarming rate. Forest Department data indicate there are now only 50 hoolock gibbons across 13 family groups in Lawachara, a steep decline from decades past. Other species have experienced similar contractions.

The Bangladesh Bannayaprani Sheba Foundation in Sreemangal helps rescue wildlife that comes into human settlements. The organisation took in 20 animals in August alone, some of them injured, and at least 11 during the first 11 days of this month.

Swapan Deb Sojol, the foundation’s director, said: “People have destroyed hills and forests and built settlements. It continues every day. With no food chain left in the forest, wildlife is coming into human settlements to look for food. Pythons are what we see most often in settlements now.”

Wildlife and biodiversity conservation officer Mirza Mehedi Sarwar told Bonik Barta: “Fruit trees of various kinds are being planted and large trees preserved to ease the habitat and food crisis. We are also trying to get a rescue centre fully running. Wildlife also needs alternatives to rail lines and roads to stay safe. If we can do that, many animals will be saved.”