Wildlife enthusiasts protest surge in bird hunting

Wildlife photographers, birdwatchers, and nature enthusiasts from across the country organised a joint photo walk, bird-watching session, and awareness programme today, around 9:00am at New Vision Eco City, near Kolatia, Dhaka, to protest bird hunting.

Participants gathered to raise awareness of the ecological impacts of bird hunting and demanded effective national initiatives to stop the practice.

"The escalating and indiscriminate hunting of birds across Bangladesh has been a major catastrophe threatening the nation's biodiversity, environment, and fragile ecosystem," a speaker at the event said.

During the event, participants observed over 50 bird species, including the Black Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Cormorants, and Brahminy Kite.

From migratory birds like the Greylag Goose to local species like the Night Heron and Black Bitterns, none are safe, participants said.

Reports from Sylhet, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Kurigram, Naogaon, Natore, Sirajganj, Pabna, and Chattogram indicate a significant surge in bird hunting activity, organisers said.

Tareq Anu, a world traveller and Bangladesh Bird Club member, said, "Hunting wild birds means harming ourselves. The day birds disappear from the earth, humans will follow."

Moushumi Siraj, co-founder of Bangladesh Female Wildlife Photographers and Conservationists, said, "While photographing birds, we witness various hunting activities. Female photographers also want to work shoulder-to-shoulder in bird conservation."

Asker Rusho, documentary filmmaker and NatSave general secretary, said: "In rural areas, hunting has become epidemic. If we do not work together now, hunters will wipe out Bangladesh's birds."

Md Arafat Rahman, general secretary of Bangladesh Biodiversity Conservation Federation, said, "Despite having laws, and even though air guns are banned, bird hunting continues. Without public awareness and strict law enforcement, we cannot save the birds."

The conservationists concluded with a resolution, "Let us build a safer Bangladesh for birds together."