Protecting vultures

Photo: surfbirds.com

During our liberation war vultures were seen eating the dead bodies shot by the Pakistani soldiers. In the past when a cow or any other animal died, vultures appeared there from somewhere. But now this beneficial scavenger is on the verge of extinction.
Crows and vultures are the main 'natural sweepers'. Crows can live in comparatively small trees but vultures need big and tall trees for their habitation. Vultures do not find shelter as we are cutting trees indiscriminately.
Vultures began to face another risk when the veterinarians started prescribing 'diclofenac' and 'clitofenac' for our cattle. These birds die after eating carcasses which were given said medicine earlier. So, in the meantime our 95% to 98% vultures have disappeared from our country. Albeit India, Nepal and Pakistan have already banned those medicines, we are still using them. Experts advise to use 'meloxicam' which is not harmful to the vultures.
Bangladesh is now facing the spread of anthrax. But vultures can digest the microbes of anthrax. What a magnificent natural balancing way! For our own benefit the number of vultures must be increased.