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Poachers, peddlers active again

Illegal bird trading thrives despite a wildlife preservation act

Rizanuzzaman Laskar
The smoggy mantle over the ever-sunny, humid city should be a cause for celebrations for many, but for the hundreds and thousands of migratory birds, which travel thousands of miles to this city every winter, it may not be a blessing.
The good news is their usual lodging places are as warm and welcoming as ever. The bad news is many of the feathered guests may not return to their homeland ever again.
"Every year, during this time starting from midNovember, countless numbers of wild ducks and herons are sold mostly for consumption on the streets of Dhaka," said an official from the wildlife circle of the Department of Forest
"This is in fact the peak time of the year for commercial wild bird traders looking to trap and sell these birds for high prices," he said.
According to Bangladesh's Wildlife
Preservation Act of 1974, only creatures including dogs, cats, hares, lovebirds, pigeons and quails -- species that can be bred in captivity — are permitted for commercial trading.
“It is a criminal offence to sell or purchase wild birds for keeping in captivity or breeding, but you can easily buy exotic birds that are bred in captivity," said an official at the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
However, varieties of vibrant and exotic birds species are being openly traded throughout the city while the authorities put a blind eye to it.
Local bird species like munia, parakeet, hillmynah and dove have always been popular among the customers at pet-shops of Dhaka. In addition, the hundreds of species of ducks and fowls passing through the country during winter are also sold for consumption.
"Over a hundred species of migratory birds come to the country each year.
However, we have found that around 15 of these species are popular with the trappers and traders," said an official at the wild-life circle of the Department of Forest.
Most of the birds are captured all over the country and brought to the city only to be sold in many pet shops and on the streets, he added.
According to traders, there is a big market for wild waterfowls in the capital where a single bird can be sold at up to Tk 500.
The wild waterfowls are generally sold on the streets, with their feet tied and held upside down. They can be seen traded in the evening on Elephant Road, Nilkhet, Katabon, Moghbazar and Purana Paltan where most of the pet shops are located.
Experts say three of the most globally threatened waterfowls that pass through Bangladesh during winter are Baikal teal, the ferruginous duck and Baer's pochard.
The ducks are usually caught by nets in the wetlands of Sylhet and Srimangol and in coastal areas of Monpura, Nijhumdweep, Boyarchar andChorpia.
The peak time for commercial trapping of wild birds is from November to February.
"Bangladesh is one of the most important locations in the world for these birds as two major migratory routes traverse it: the East Asian Austral-Asian Flyway and the Central Asian Flyway," said Monjurul Kader, an expert of World Conservation Union (IUCN).
Trading of birds for consumption began in the early 1980s.
"For high prices Dhaka has become a popular destination for the illegal bird trade. Traders can easily claim high price for all sorts of birds," said a vendor from Katabon.
Even though the Department of Forest is very much aware of the violation of the wildlife preservation law and open trade of endangered species particularly in and around the city, they can do little due to lack of awareness and adequate staff, sources said.
"I do not know if there is a law about trading of birds. If there was a law, how come no one [law enforc-ers] ever challenged me," said Munir, salesperson of a pet shop at Katabon who was seen selling cage-full of black-headed and white-throat munias.
Besides these pet markets, floating peddlers also take their stocks door to door while they balance pairs of cages full of small, chirpy wild birds on their shoulders.
Moktar Hossain, a roaming pet vendor who was seen with cages full of green munias and parrots told this correspondent that he is not aware if his birds are wild or were bred in captivity as he purchased them
from another trader.
"Birds are birds, does it really matter if they are wild or not wild because everyone likes them for what they really are,” said Hossain.
A number of rare species tend to show up in the shoulders of these roaming vendors from time to time. Rare and exotic species of birds including spotted doves, rose-ringed parakeets, alexandrine parakeets, blossom-headed parakeets, red munias, green munias, blackheaded munias, white-throat munias and some finches are seen being sold.
The customers do not know these birds could be on the list of endangered species.
Officials at the wildlife circle of Department of Forest claimed they have mobile patrol units operating in city streets to identify and charge illegal wildlife traders.
"We also send out special teams whenever we receive reports of illegal bird trades," said an official at the department.
According to him, the highest penalty for being associated with wildlife trade is two years' imprisonment or a fine of Tk 50,000.
Despite enforcement of the wildlife preservation act, trading of birds is still thriving, putting the existing eco-system in jeopardy, experts said.
"The Department of Forest should be blamed for not enforcing the wildlife act properly as it is their responsibility to both create awareness among the general people and assist the police authorities in identifying wildlife crime offenders," said Monjurul Kader.
"Without assistance from the Department of Forest police can barely do anything as they are not trained to identify wild birds and are therefore ill-equipped to handle the situation," he added