Environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said the government has taken steps to bring animals lost from Bangladesh back to their natural habitat, as part of proper measures for wildlife conservation.

"We have already begun reintroducing peafowl. Peafowl have been released in the safari park, and efforts are under way to return them to the wild as well. A plan has been made for nature-friendly afforestation on a new 150 acres in the Madhupur sal forest," she said.

The adviser was speaking as chief guest at an event marking World Wildlife Day 2025 at Bon Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Monday (3 March). This year's theme was "Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet".

"Bangladesh's biodiversity is our pride, but at the same time it faces many threats. The hopeful thing is that many positive changes are also happening. I want to give some good news: the finance ministry has approved 360 new posts for our forest department. This will strengthen our efforts in forest conservation and wildlife protection," Rizwana said.

Referring to fires in the Sundarbans, she said more effective measures were needed to stop them recurring, and public awareness about protecting forests and wildlife had to be raised. "We want zoos to be better homes for animals. Safari parks must be restructured so that the animals can move about in an open environment. We are also in talks with foreign experts to improve treatment facilities at the safari parks," she said.

She said a project to create elephant corridors had been taken up to ensure that people and wildlife can live side by side, and she hoped it would start next month.

"This year we have rescued many fishing cats, and 'Fishing Cat Day' was observed for the first time. Awareness activities are being run through the deputy commissioners and will continue," she said.

"All of us must come forward to protect wildlife. We want not only to bring wildlife back but also to ensure safe habitats for them. People's awareness and participation are our main strength in conserving nature, forests and wildlife," she added.

The event was chaired by chief conservator of forests Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury. Special guests were Md Khairul Hasan, additional secretary (with routine charge of secretary) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and wildlife expert Dr Mohammad Ali Reza Khan, former principal of Dubai Safari Park. Experts at the event stressed the need for separate wildlife departments at public universities.

The adviser also handed out prizes to the winners of the "Esho Chini Bonyoprani" (Let's Know Wildlife) and wildlife photography competitions.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.