Ten vultures of endangered species are waiting to be released at Singra Forest National Park in Birganj, Dinajpur. Every year sick vultures brought to the park's care centre are released once they have recovered.

This time, 10 vultures of various species that were caught sick in different districts will be released. Last year, 20 sick vultures of endangered species rescued from districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions were brought to the centre, given intensive care and released after recovering. The year before, 19 vultures were released.

Vultures found sick and injured in various districts are kept under intensive care at the Birganj Singra Forest National Park centre to protect them and help them breed, and are released into the open sky once they recover.

These endangered vultures, known as great friends of nature, come to Bangladesh from various countries in winter. After their long journey many fall sick and come down in different parts of the north. In the past, even when they were rescued, most of them died. That changed after the vulture rescue and care centre was set up at Singra Forest National Park in Birganj upazila.

Daya Prasad Roy, forest beat officer of Birganj Singra National Park, confirmed that 10 vultures are now awaiting release. One vulture, however, has been staying at the park as a guest for a long time. At present nine vultures have recovered and are moving about.

Bashirul Al Mamun, divisional officer of the Dinajpur social forestry division, said the birds mainly come to the country from the Himalayan region in winter. After travelling a long way they become weak, cannot fly and get stranded near human settlements. "We rescue them and arrange food and treatment. Last year 46 vultures were rescued from different places in the country, most of them from the northern districts. Twenty vultures have been released from the Birganj sal forest."

He said some vultures are also at other safari parks. The project began in 2014, and so far 249 vultures have been rescued, treated and released into nature under it. This time 10 vultures are awaiting release.

The vulture is called nature's sweeper, and it is a beneficial creature. The project was taken up to help vultures breed and survive. For several years, vultures have been cared for and treated in the Singra sal forest and sent back at the end of winter, and those involved are working to save this endangered bird. Satellite tracking devices marked "Bangladesh" have been fitted to the vultures, which will show their movements and latest location.

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