Forest marbles …

A magnificent marbled cat spotted in Fatikchhari's Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary. First recorded in Bangladesh in 2014, these rare and elusive felines inhabit the dense evergreen forests of Sylhet, Chattogram, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Remarkably stealthy and agile, they spend much of their lives in the trees as skilled arboreal hunters. Marbled cats are listed as "Near Threatened" by the IUCN, meaning they are on the brink of endangerment, due to deforestation and habitat loss. Conservation efforts are now crucial to keep their populations stable. On WORLD ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY today, let us remember that every creature is vital to nature -- and deserves not just to survive, but to thrive.

PHOTO: MD ASHIQUL ISLAM