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State Governments of Assam and West Bengal form Vulture
Governing Councils
Further steps were taken in June by Assam and West Bengal Forest departments by the constitution and inaugural meetings of Vulture Governing Councils. These are in line with a similar body which meets annually in Haryana, and further demonstrate the commitment of Governments to the vulture issue.
In Assam the Council is chaired by Mr BB Hagjer, Commissioner and Secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forests in Assam, where Chief Wildlife Warden, Mr Malakar is the Vulture Project leader. The meeting was held in Guwahati on 19 June 2009 together with other Government and NGO representation including BNHS, RSPB, ZSL and Jemima Parry-Jones. Updates on construction of the centre at Rani Forest and the collection of nestlings were given and the programme for future actions was laid out.
In West Bengal, an equally significant meeting was chaired by PCCF Mr S S Bist. It was held in Kolkata on 23 June 2009, and included representation from Animal Husbandry Department as well as senior wildlife officials.
The formation of these Vulture Governing Councils is a highly significant illustration that the State Governments of Haryana, West Bengal and Assam are both committed to the BNHS-run breeding centres sited in these states, but also are committed to the wider issues of removing diclofenac so the birds can be released successfully in future.
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