February 19, 2025
GAZIPUR – Authorities have rescued 34 animals from an illegal mini zoo called “Modern Fantasy Kingdom” in the Kalukathi area of Naria upazila of Shariatpur district and handed them over to Gazipur Safari Park.
The rescued animals include a bear, a freshwater crocodile, three Burmese pythons, nine porcupines, two fishing cats, two forest cats, and various species of birds.
Confirming the arrival of the animals, Safari Park Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam said the animals have been kept in quarantine. The next course of action will be taken as per the instructions of the authorities.
According to sources from the Safari Park and Wildlife Crime Suppression Unit, these animals were rescued during a raid on an illegally established mini zoo called ‘Modern Fantasy Kingdom’ in the Kalukati area of Naria Ujjala in Shariatpur district on Sunday.
The unit’s Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Officer Rathindra Kumar Biswas led the raid.
According to the Wildlife (Conservation and Protection) Act, 2012, possession, hunting, purchase and sale of such wildlife are punishable acts.
Biswas said the authorities of the Modern Fantasy Kingdom children’s park and picnic spot admitted that they had kept these animals without knowing the law.