Critically endangered white-rumped vulture rescued

A critically endangered white-rumped vulture, locally known as “Bangla Shokun”, was rescued from Nurallahpur of Chhatak upazila in Sunamganj yesterday.

Pradhikar, an animal rights and wildlife conservation organisation of Sylhet Agriculture University, rescued the vulture and handed over to Sylhet Wildlife Conservation Centre.

Tajul Islam, treasurer of the organisation, said, “The vulture was rescued from local Rakib Uddin Bablu’s house, who was taking care of the sick bird for a week.”

Rakib Uddin Bablu said, “Some local children found the vulture lying on the ground of a nearby forest and started playing with the bird. Some youths rescued it from the kids and I started taking care of it last week.”

Tajul Islam said, “Seeing a post in a Facebook group, we contacted the person who posted it, and rescued the bird from Bablu’s house and handed it over to the wildlife conservation centre.”

“It was sick due to food crisis and is not able to fly. It is being provided food and care at the centre and will be released soon,” he added.

White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) is critically endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. At present, fewer than one thousand birds of this species remain in the country, and the number is declining rapidly.