What is WWF – Pakistan doing to save vultures from extinction?
WWF – Pakistan developed a conservation plan to save the Oriental White-backed Vulture from extinction. It is working in close collaboration with the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department to notify the area that is strong hold of this species at Toawala near Multan as a protected area. Further, coordinating with the Federal Ministry of Environment to ban the causative agent of the decline – Diclofenac.
WWF – Pakistan is also leading the Gyps Vulture Restoration Project and working closely with the Hawk Conservancy Trust, UK to develop the captive breeding facility. The consultant of this project Campbell Murn visited WWF-Pakistan recently and helped in designing the facility. Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA), United Arab Emirates , is providing financial assistance to develop this breeding facility. Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department is partner in this project and is facilitating WWF – Pakistan by providing permission to use land at Changa Manga Forest . The facility would initially hold a safe population of the species and then would start breeding the birds, eventually these birds will be released into the wild to ensure that vulture continue to perform their ecological services.
WWF – Pakistan in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment and IUCN – Pakistan arranged a one day workshop on the Vulture Conservation at its Head Office on the 2nd September, 2004.
