The number of birds in Moulvibazar's Hakaluki haor has fallen sharply compared with the previous two years. On 26–27 January the Bangladesh Bird Club and IUCN Bangladesh counted birds in 40 beels of Hakaluki, finding a total of 37,931 waterbirds of 51 species.

According to the Bird Club, the number of birds has fallen compared with the last two years. Its figures show there were 45,100 birds in Hakaluki haor in 2018 and 58,281 in 2017. This year the number has fallen to 37,931.

The club said six threatened species were found: the critically endangered Baer's pochard; the endangered common pochard and greater spotted eagle; and the near-threatened ferruginous duck, falcated duck and black-headed ibis.

Among the beels richest in birds, Nagua Dhalia beel came first with 8,676 birds and Chatla beel second with 5,327. Only 405 of the waterbirds were shorebirds.

During the census, the counting team found birds killed with poison bait at Paroti, Balijuri and Nagua Dhalia beels in Hakaluki. Speaking about hunting birds with poison bait, Tarek Onu, who took part in the census, said poison also enters the bodies of those who eat wild ducks killed with poison bait, and causes cancer.

Those who took part in the census were Dr Paul Thompson, Enam Al Haque, Mohammad Foysal, Omar Shahadat, Sakib Ahmed, Bashir Ahmed and Tarek Onu.

The census covered these beels of Hakaluki haor: Hawa Banna, Kalapani, Ranchi, Dudhai, Garkuri, Chokia, Ujan-Tarul, Phut, Hingaujuri, Nagaon, Laribai, Tallar beel, Kangli, Kuri, Chenaura, Pingla, Paroti, Agder beel, Chetla, Nama-Tarul, Nagaon-Dhulia, Maichhla-Dak, Chandar, Malam, Phuyala, Polobhanga, Haor Khal, Koir-Kona, Moyaijuri, Jalla, Kukurdubi, Balijuri, Balikuri, Maichhla, Garshikona, Chola, Padma, Katua, Tekona, Meda, Baya, Gajua, Haramdinga and Goaljur.

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