Protect Endangered Eagles in Bangladesh

Reporting Period: May 2025 – August 2025
Organization: Green Fund Initiative (GFI), New York, USA
Local Partner in Bangladesh: Bangladesh Biodiversity Conservation and Social Services Centre (BCSSC)

1. Overview

During the reporting period of May–August 2025, the "Save Eagles in Bangladesh" project faced significant financial constraints, limiting its ability to carry out regular field activities such as rescue operations, systematic habitat monitoring, and rehabilitation programs. Despite these challenges, GFI and BCSSC, with the support of local volunteers, focused on community awareness campaigns to sustain conservation momentum and maintain visibility of eagle and raptor protection in the project area.

2. Key Achievements2.1 Awareness and Community Engagement

• Community Awareness Campaigns: A total of 3 awareness campaigns were conducted in Kendua upazila, Netrakona district, engaging over 75 local residents. The sessions emphasized:

  • The ecological importance of eagles and vultures as apex predators and scavengers.

  • The role of local communities in reporting injured birds and preventing habitat destruction.

  • Practical measures to reduce threats such as poisoning, habitat loss, and human disturbance.

• School Outreach: One campaign specifically targeted 30 schoolchildren, raising awareness among the younger generation about eagle conservation and encouraging stewardship for wildlife.

• Volunteer Mobilization: Local volunteers contributed approximately 80 hours of service to organize, facilitate, and document the awareness campaigns.

2.2 Monitoring and Reporting

• While no formal rescue operations were carried out due to the lack of funding, volunteers maintained informal habitat observations in key areas.

• Two potential sightings of eagles were reported by community members, demonstrating improved awareness and reporting capacity within the local population.

2.3 Partnership and Collaboration

• Collaboration with BCSSC and local leaders was strengthened to sustain conservation dialogue despite financial limitations.

• Preliminary discussions were held with community representatives on setting up a rapid reporting network to better respond to future wildlife emergencies.

3. Challenges

• Funding Constraints: The lack of external funding remains the primary barrier, preventing systematic field monitoring, rehabilitation efforts, and large-scale awareness campaigns.

• Resource Limitations: Without adequate equipment, staff, or financial resources, the project could not expand its activities beyond community-led awareness efforts.

• Human-Wildlife Conflict: Reports of retaliatory actions against raptors continue, underscoring the need for conflict-mitigation strategies, which remain unimplemented due to funding gaps.

4. Next Steps

• Expand awareness campaigns to reach at least 200 households in Kendua and surrounding areas by the end of 2025.

• Strengthen collaboration with schools to integrate eagle and raptor conservation messages into environmental education.

• Develop a community-led early reporting and rescue mechanism in partnership with BCSSC and the Forest Department.

• Seek new funding opportunities to resume structured rescue operations, rehabilitation, and habitat assessments.

5. Conclusion

The May–August 2025 reporting period demonstrated the resilience of the Save Eagles in Bangladesh project team and its volunteers. Despite the absence of funding, meaningful progress was achieved through 3 community awareness campaigns, 75 residents engaged, 30 schoolchildren educated, and 80 volunteer hours contributed. These grassroots actions are laying the groundwork for stronger community stewardship and future conservation successes.

Sustained financial support will be crucial to scale up these efforts, resume rescue operations, and ensure the long-term protection of eagles, vultures, and other raptors in Bangladesh.

Links:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjKLLdA7Gis