Officials from Dulahajara Safari Park went to Khagrachhari last Friday and convinced the owner of the six rare deer to handover the animals to them.

Anwar Hossain, a businessman whose family grew up the herd, handed over all the six hog-deer to the Dulahajara Safari Park authorities that noon.

The hog-deer, popularly known as "Para Horeen" in Bangla, is a species thought to have been extinct from the wildlife of the country for more than 50 years.

But one male hog-deer was found from the jungle near Alutila of Khagrachhari a couple of years ago, said wildlife specialist and Dulahajara Safari Park Project Director Dr Tapan Kumar Dey.

Since then officials of the safari park had been looking for at least one female so that the species could multiply, he said.

The hog-deer is, however, available in Tripura and Kaziranga forests of Assam, wildlife experts told The Daily Star.

And Anwar's family has had one pair for the last eight years.

Anwar said he brought the pair of hog-deer from a Tipra indigenous family eight years ago. His family members have taken care of the pair and the animals gradually became a part of the family.

However, Anwar's family did not have any idea that the species is so rare.

Meanwhile, the deer multiplied and its number increased to six.

Aleya Begum, Anwar's wife, said the deer were like her own children and they used to move about the house freely like their family members.

"From today they will get a new place to live but I will feel like losing my children. My children will also miss their playmates," Aleya said.

Anwar's family members could not hold tears while handing over the deer to the park authorities.

Tapan said, "When we came to know that Anwar possesses six hog-deer, we contacted him. We told him about the importance of the species and requested him to hand them over."

Anwar decided to give all the six deer as a contribution to the park, he said, adding that it is great news for the country's wildlife activists.