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Haryana launches vulture conservation project

Special Correspondent

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds assures funding for the scheme

CHANDIGARH: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to conservation and breeding of vultures was signed on Tuesday between the Haryana Forests Department and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in the presence of Haryana Minister of State for Forests Kiran Choudhary.

The MoU was signed by R. D. Jakati, Chief Wildlife Warden, on behalf of the Forests Department and A. R. Rehmani, Director of BNHS.

Ministry's support

According to Ms. Choudhary, the Haryana Forests Department had spearheaded vulture conservation efforts in collaboration with BNHS, the country's oldest conservation organisation, with active support of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The Forests Department would ensure smooth running of the project by providing land and giving necessary permission and clearances while BNHS would organise the funding.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds of the UK has assured funding to BNHS for running the project for at least 15 years, she added.

Extensive research

Ms. Choudhary said extensive research carried out at the Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre had established that most of the vultures in India died due to the use of Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug given to cattle.

She said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured her recently that a meeting of the relevant ministries would be convened soon to take a positive decision in this regard.

Safe drug

She claimed that that the pioneering work done by the Centre in identifying a safe drug, Meloxicam, which could be given to cattle, was of great significance. It would go a long way in saving the vultures from extinction.

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