Guests pose for a photograph after unveiling a book titled Updating Species Red List of Bangladesh at programme organised by IUCN in the capital on Wednesday.
Thirty-one species are now extinct while 390 others are threatened, among 1,619 species of seven wildlife groups in Bangladesh, according to the latest Red List of Bangladesh published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature on Wednesday.
IUCN revealed the information on Wednesday at the ‘final dissemination of the red list assessment and book unveiling ceremony’ at Bangabandhu International Convention Centre in the capital.
The Red List tries to give an idea about the likelihood of a species becoming extinct in the near future, given the current knowledge about population trends, range, and recent, current or projected threats.
IUCN assessed the 1,619 species in seven groups – mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fishes, crustaceans and butterflies.
According to the red list, the extinct species include 11 mammals, 19 birds and one species of reptile.
The red list data show that two per cent of the species were regionally extinct, three per cent as critically endangered, 11 per cent as endangered, nine per cent as vulnerable, six per cent as near threatened, 50 per cent as least concern and 17 per cent of the species lacked adequate data.
Among 138 assessed mammalian species, the red list show that 11 are regionally extinct, 17 critically endangered, 12 endangered and nine vulnerable.
The extinct 11 species of mammals include Striped Hyena, Banteng, Blackbuck, Grey Wolf, Indian Rhinoceros, Javan Rhinoceros, Nilgai, Sloth Bear, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Swamp Deer and Wild Buffalo.
Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Asian Elephants, Chitral Deer, Asian Black Bear, common otter, Sambar deer and long tailed monkeys are among the critically endangered species of mammals.
According to the red list, among 566 assessed bird species, 19 are now regionally extinct, 10 critically endangered, 12 endangered and 17 are vulnerable.
The extinct 19 species of birds are Bar-tailed Tree Creeper, Bengal Florican, black-breasted parrot bill, Indian peafowl, greater adjutant, Greater Rufous-headed parrot bill, Green peafowl, Grey Francolin, Lesser Florican, pink-headed duck, red-headed vulture, rufous-throated partridge, rusty-fronted barwing, white-winged duck, sarus crane, spot breasted parrot bill, spot-billed pelican, swamp francolin, white-bellied heron.
Among the 167 assessed reptile group, marsh crocodile was assessed as the lone extinct species while 38 other species were assessed as threatened ones.
Two species of the evaluated 49 amphibians were assessed as critically endangered, three endangered and five species as vulnerable.
Out of 253 evaluated species of freshwater fishes, the red list shows that nearly one fourth of the species are threatened.
The red list shows that 11 species out of 141crustaceans species are threatened while almost two thirds of 305 assessed butterflies were evaluated as threatened.
The red list was updated through assessment works from December 2013 to June 2016 and was published as a part of Bangladesh Forest Department’s ‘Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Wildlife Protection’ project funded by the World Bank.
The latest Red List status was published in seven volumes of books, which was also unveiled at the ceremony.
Addressing the ceremony as the chief guest, deputy minister for environment and forests, Abdullah Al Islam Jakob said the red list will facilitate the effective policymaking for ensuring appropriate and continual biodiversity management practices.
IUCN Bangladesh country representative Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmed, urging all the quarters to join hands to protect wildlife and biodiversity, said the red list will help to prevent wildlife trafficking and illegal trade of wildlife in the country.
Presided over by chief conservator of forests Md Yunus Ali, the ceremony was also addressed, among others, by environment and forests secretary Kamal Uddin Ahmed and chief national technical expert Mohammad Ali Reza Khan.
Source: New Age
