Over 170 traps found in Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary area
29 May 2020 - Source: The Global New Light Of Myanmar
A total of 172 traps, which can hunt deer and wild pigs, were found in April and May in Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary areas, according to wildlife sanctuary administration office. The Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary located in Minbu district is over 100,000 square miles wide. The golden deer inhabit the land of over 400 acres.
"The deer traps are being made with the truck tires by taking out the chain. These traps are made by the local residents. It has been a long time that it has become a traditional business. We also heard that the golden deer are shot by the hunters.
But we could not produce any evidence. We have collected the traps in the wildlife sanctuary together with our staff and also conducted the awareness education talks in the villages," said U Aung Soe Tint, the administrator of the wildlife sanctuary. The golden deers inhabit mostly over 400 acres plot of land near Tatmadaw cotton plantations in Pwint Phyu township. According to the latest survey, there are 1,106 deers in the wildlife sanctuary, according to the Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary Administrator. "I have retired for one month. Before retirement, I heard the news that the golden deers are shot with the use of the gun. The shooters come in the evening to the wildlife sanctuary by car and hunt the golden deers. So, we had waited for two nights together with the forest staff," said U Thein Lwin, the retired head of the wildlife sanctuary.
The forest department planted around 20 acres of crops in the areas inhabited by the golden deers. They have also planned to upgrade some areas and are digging nine water ponds for the animals in the wildlife area.
At present, the department is filling the water of golden deer water ponds and patrolling around the area to protect the gold animal against being killed. —Zayyatu (Magway) (Translated by Hay Mar)
