Bio-diversity: Vulture population across the province has declined by 95%

US consul general visits vulture conservation project.


Express April 23, 2011

LAHORE:


The past decade has seen a 95 per cent decline in the population of vultures across the Punjab. A vulture will likely suffer kidney failure leading to death when it feeds on an animal that has been given diclofenac, a drug used widely in the country as a pain killer.


US Consul General Carmela Conroy was informed of these facts when she visited the Vulture Conservation Centre in Changa Manga forests on Wednesday to mark Earth Day.

Conroy was greeted by children of a nearby community school. Along with Uzma Khan, a zoologist and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) biodiversity director, the consul general planted five jambul and neem saplings.

Conroy then put on gloves and a mask to feed the vultures. The conservation centre in-charge, Faisal Fareed, briefed Conroy and her entourage, including Jennifer Larson and Tristam Perry, about the environmental significance of vultures.

Conroy thanked the staff and the children for the warm reception. “I am delighted and thrilled to learn about the efforts being made to protect Pakistan’s wildlife,” she said.

The centre assists the environmental sciences departments of several universities and environmental organisations in their research projects. Currently, 20 vultures are housed here.

Currently, the centre runs on donations from the UK-based Hawk Conservancy Trust which funds endangered prey birds worldwide. Initial funding for the centre was provided by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.

A WWF official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the US consulate staff had verbally promised financial support to keep the centre running.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23rd, 2011.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ