Two men were jailed by a mobile court in Chittagong’s Lohagara for trafficking endangered Gibbon (Ulluk) species.

The convicted are Md Mazharul, 32, and Momin, 25.

The mobile court, conducted by Lohagara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharif Ullah, sentenced the men to one-year imprisonment and fined Tk10,000 each on Saturday.

Sharif Ulyah said selling, purchasing, importing and exporting wildlife are all punishable offences under Section 34 (b) of the Wildlife Conservation and Security Act, 2012.

Mahmud Hossain, range officer of Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary, said: “Gibbon is a critically endangered species that is primarily found on tree trunks. It eats fruits and insects to stay alive.”

After the investigation, the rescued animal will be transported to the Dulahazara Safari Park where it will be released back into the forest.

Confirming the incident, Md Atiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Lohagara police station, said that the gibbon was recovered while it was being trafficked past the Chunati Forest Office at around 8am.