Bangladesh’s effort to save vultures lauded

Bangladesh has become an example among South Asian countries for its efforts to save vultures, a wildlife expert has said.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 22 Nov 2014, 12:43 PM
Updated : 22 Nov 2014, 05:16 PM

Chris Bowden, programme manager for Saving Asian Vultures from Extinction (SAVE), made the comment at the fourth meeting of the association at Hotel Sonargaon on Saturday.

SAVE is actively working in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Cambodia to conserve the raptors whose numbers have been declining rapidly.

In Bangladesh, SAVE works with the forest department.

The vulture population has come down to just 6,000 globally, with about 500 white-rumped vultures in Bangladesh.

The government has reserved 27,000 square kilometers of land in Khulna and 19,000 in Sylhet and declared them ‘vulture safe zones’, the environment and forest secretary Md Nazibur Rahman told the meeting.

It has also banned the use of veterinary drug diclofenac, which heavily contributed to the decline in the bird’s population.

Diclofenac is poisonous to any vulture that feeds on the carcass of cattle that was treated with the drug.
“The authorities are considering banning another vaccine Ketoprophen,” said Rahman.
India, Nepal and Pakistan banned diclofenac for veterinary use in 2006. But SAVE says it is still sold illegally.
“The measures taken by the Bangladesh will be an example for the governments in India and Pakistan,” said Bowden.
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith who was present at the programme said growing up in Sylhet he was used to seeing many animals in the wild including vultures, but they were now on the verge of extinction.
He said vultures were among the most beautiful creatures and thanked bird conservationists for their work in saving the birds.
“I thank the vulture-lovers for working to save these endangered lives. Bangladesh’s government has taken many measures to save tigers and vultures.”
He blamed several wealthy nations for damaging the environment and said: “Bangladesh is an exception. As far as my knowledge goes, we don’t emit one percent of carbon.”