Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, inaugurated an awareness van dedicated to the conservation of endangered wildlife, including fishing cats. This special van has been launched in the southwestern region to raise awareness about protecting endangered wildlife, particularly the fishing cat. The van will travel across 21 districts in the southwest, educating people from all walks of life about the importance of wildlife conservation.
The inauguration ceremony of the awareness van in Jashore was attended by the Divisional Commissioner of Khulna Division, the Conservator of Jashore Social Forest Division, forest department officials, representatives of environmental organizations, and local administration officials.
The Advisor stated, "We must be compassionate towards animals. Awareness is crucial to protect all wildlife, including fishing cats. We need to show empathy towards animals and save them."
She further added, "Many people kill fishing cats due to misconceptions. These animals play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance."
It is noteworthy that the southwestern region, especially the Ganges-flooded area, is rich in biodiversity. However, initiatives for animal conservation are limited in this area. It is home to various rare animals, including fishing cats, gray langurs, Bengal foxes, painted storks, eagles, and woolly-necked storks. Endangered gharials and critically endangered crocodiles are also found in the Padma River and its tributaries.
Research has shown that this region hosts 260 species of birds, which is more than 40 percent of the country's total bird species. However, due to a lack of proper conservation and habitat destruction, wildlife is now under threat. As animals move closer to human settlements, conflicts between humans and animals are also increasing, leading to the death of many wild animals. The fishing cat is one such example.
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