3 kangaroos rescued in Bengal, 1 found dead; probe launched
Three kangaroos were rescued from two separate locations in north Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district on Friday, state forest department officials said on Saturday, adding that a probe had been launched to ascertain how the animals were brought to the country.
While two kangaroos were rescued from Gajoldoba, a tourist destination near Siliguri, the third was found in Farabari, around 40 km away, said a forest official familiar with the matter. The carcass of a fourth kangaroo was found by local residents near Farabari on Saturday
“All three are sub-adults and are in very poor health. They were rescued and sent to the state-run
North Bengal Wild Animal Park for treatment. Earlier this month, we had rescued one kangaroo from Alipurduar district in north Bengal,” said Debal Roy, the state’s chief wildlife warden.
“We had information that kangaroos would be trafficked. Naka checking was being done accordingly. Later, the kangaroos were found on the road. They were probably dumped by the traffickers. An investigation has started. None have been arrested so far,” said a forest official asking not to be named.
Forest ranger Sanjay Dutta of the Belacoba range, under Baikunthupur forest division, said, “We have initiated further investigation for ascertaining the whereabouts of these kangaroos; by whom and how they were brought into the forest; along with finding the cause behind bringing them.”
Speaking about last month’s rescue of a kangaroo in Alipurduar, an official said police had stopped a truck at the Barobisha police outpost on the Assam-bengal border and found the animal in a small cage in the truck. The driver and one more person travelling in the truck were arrested.