Forty-four wild animals, including monkeys and Chitra deer have been rescued in Pirujali area under Gazipur Sadar upazila.

Of those, one leopard cat, one monkey and eight Chitra deer were seized from Adurikunja resort, a picnic spot, in Gazipur. The rest animals -- 32 birds and two Hanumans -- were rescued from a local vendor who was selling those at the same time in the area.

Md Rafiqul Islam, in-charge of the Gazipur Safari Park, today told The Daily Star that the animals have been kept in quarantine at the park.

He said that the animals were rescued in a drive led by Mizanur Rahman, director of Wildlife Crime Control Unit, on Monday afternoon.

Wildlife Crime Control Unit Inspector Abdullah Sadiq said that wildlife is being illegally collected and displayed at the Adurikunja resort to attract the visitors. So, the operation was conducted based on such information.

According to the forest department, it will continue to monitor and conduct more operations to stop such illegal activities.