With a view to protect the critically-endangered vultures from extinction, the government has declared two safe zones covering over 47,000 square kilometres in the Sylhet and Khulna divisions.
The total area of Vulture Safe Zones in greater Sylhet and Khulna areas will be 19,663.18 sq-km and 27,717.26 sq-km.
The Environment and Forests Ministry made the decision on Thursday, Md Nojibur Rahman, secretary of the ministry, said addressing the inaugural session of the Fourth Save the Vultures meeting in the capital’s Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.
Adding that a circular in this regard would be published in a day or two, he also said activities that are harmful for the vulture population would be controlled strictly in those safe zones. For example, the use of banned medicine diclofenac – a painkiller that kills vultures but used across Asia to treat livestock – would be restricted.
The programme was jointly organised by the Forest Department, IUCN Bangladesh and Save – a global organisation working to save vultures.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there were four crore vultures – known as “scavengers of nature” – in the Indian Subcontinent 20 years back which has now come down to approximately below 10,000. It means the number dropped by 99.9% during this period.
In Bangladesh, the total vulture population is below 500.
Of the three resident species of vultures, the country has already lost two – slender-billed and red-headed vultures.
The only remaining species white-rumped vulture, commonly known as “Bangla Shokun,” is listed by the IUCN as “critically endangered.”
It is nothing other than the mindless use of veterinary medicine diclofenac that caused the number of vultures to fall drastically as vultures only feed on dead animals. A single contaminated carcass can cause to death of a whole flock of vultures. Scientists estimate that a 30ml vial of diclofenac is enough to kill around 500 vultures.
The effects of diclofenac on vultures include renal failure, drooping posture and loss of flight because vultures do not have a particular enzyme in their body to break down diclofenac.
The government in October 2010 banned the production and sale of diclofenac for cattle as it damages kidneys of vultures.
However, a recent study conducted jointly by the Forest Department and the IUCN Bangladesh shows that diclofenac are still available in the veterinary drug stores.
Experts also suggest that “Ketoprofen” – another medicine detrimental for vultures but used on cattle – should also be banned.
When contacted, Prof Monirul H Khan, a leading vulture specialist, told the Dhaka Tribune that the government should ban the use of Ketoprofen – used largely as a substitute for diclofenac.
He, instead, advocated for using Meloxicam as a substitute for diclofenac, though it is costlier.
