Student group rescues Himalayan Griffon vulture in Gaibandha

Members of the student-led environmental organisation 'Team for Energy and Environmental Research' (TEER) rescued a Himalayan Griffon vulture from the Kashim Bazar area under Sundarganj upazila in Gaibandha.

With the assistance of the local forest department, the vulture was rescued and handed over to the Rangpur forest department this afternoon.

On Sunday, around 9:00am, the unwell vulture was spotted in a field belonging to Amin Hossain, a resident of the Sicha-Kashim Bazar area in Sundarganj.

Upon receiving the news, a representative team from the Gaibandha Government College unit of TEER arrived at the spot early this morning. With the help of locals, they rescued the bird and took it to the Gaibandha forest department, where it received primary medical care.

Sultan Ahmed, programme assistant at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said, "These vultures migrate toward the plains during November and December, unable to withstand the extreme cold and storms of the Himalayas. After travelling long distances, they often become too exhausted to fly. While resting, locals frequently mistake them for being ill."

According to the IUCN, the Himalayan Griffon is a near-threatened bird species across the globe, he added.

Mosharaf Hossain, the current president of TEER's Gaibandha Government College unit, said, "While Bangladesh was once home to seven species of vultures, the Red-headed Vulture is now completely extinct in the country. Currently, only about 260 White-rumped Vultures remain. In this context, protecting migratory Himalayan Griffons is very important."

"Every year we rescue the migratory Himalayan griffon from the northern districts," Mosharaf added.

He added that following the advice of IUCN official Sultan Ahmed and Gaibandha forest department acting officer Shariful Islam, the vulture was transferred to the Rangpur forest department. From there, it will be sent to the 'Vulture Rescue and Care Centre' at Singra National Park in Dinajpur for specialised care.

TEER has been working relentlessly for wildlife conservation since 2011. In recognition of its contributions, the organisation was honoured with the 'National Award for Wildlife Conservation 2021.'