Save endangered speciesfrom extinction: Experts

Patna: Even as World Wildlife Day was celebrated across the globe under the theme ‘Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration’ on Thursday, life scientists and government officials emphasized the need of creating public awareness for saving the endangered species of the state from extinction.
They stressed the need to reverse the fate of the critically endangered species to support the restoration of their habitats and ecosystems and promote their sustainable use by humanity.
State environment, forest and climate change department’s principal secretary Dipak Kumar Singh said though some steps have recently been taken to save the endangered species, more such efforts on the part of the people are needed for sustaining their growth and survival. The number of tigers, which are endangered species, has increased in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) through special efforts, he added.
Singh said the government is also trying to restore the population of critically endangered species of the Greater Adjutant Stork, locally known as garuda, in Bhagalpur district.
“Once abundant in Asian countries, the bird species declined rapidly in the 20th century due to hunting and habitat loss. Presently, the species is reportedly found only in Assam, Bihar and Cambodia, with an estimated population of a little over 1,000. The state is also planning to launch a conservation drive for endangered blackbucks in Buxar district,” he said.
Singh pointed out that the national aquatic animal, the dolphin, is also an endangered species. The total population of aquatic dolphins in the world is roughly around 3,000 and 1,700 of them are found in Bihar alone. “Every effort needs to be made to protect this mammal from extinction,” he added. Dr Gopal Sharma of Zoological Survey of India said even though the number of tigers in VTR has increased in recent years, they are reportedly migrating from this reserve in search of food.
“The authorities must initiate steps for enhancing their prey (food) in the reserve to stop their migration. Too much pressure on water resources has been telling upon the survival of aquatic life. This, in turn , adversely affects the entire ecosystem,” he said.
Patna University zoology department teacher Arbind Kumar said it is good that efforts were being made to protect endangered species like tigers and dolphins, but attention must also be paid on the conservation of vultures whose numbers have declined considerably in recent times.
Kumar said despite feeding on infected carcasses, vultures do not get infected. “The acids in their stomach are potent enough to kill the pathogen. Thus, the chain of infection is broken. It invisibly controls the spread of harmful pathogens causing deadly anthrax, cholera, foot and mouth disease, rabies and distemper,” he added.