Wild animals in the northwest of the country put under threat by hundreds of mostly Christian tribal people hunting for food can now breathe easier thanks to a wildlife rescue scheme launched by the local government. The Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB), in conjunction with several NGO’s is providing poor tribal people with low interest loans to stop them hunting enable them to rear animals to eat. The board has been issuing loans of up to 100,000 taka (US$1,429) since 2010 to tribal people in various sub-districts of Rajshahi, Chapai Nawabgonj and Naogaon districts. Although the loans have been available since last year, the board formally launched the scheme on Saturday, to mark World Environment Day on June 5. Some tribal people have used their loans to set up their own poultry and livestock businesses. It has encouraged many more to stop hunting thus many wild animals such as rabbits, squirrels, wild cats, foxes and various birds that were slowly disappearing have been saved. “These people couldn’t buy meat or fish from the market because they were so poor. So, they resorted to hunting which threatened wildlife. Now, that they can rear their own with the low interest loans, they’ve stopped killing wild animals and birds,” said Khorshed Alam, a BRDB official. Some tribal people said hunting had become a traditional way of life, but things have become easier since they received the loans. “I’m rearing chickens, ducks and goats at home with the loan and will never again rely on hunting,” said Robi Biswas, 40, a tribal Paharia Catholic. Newton Biswas, 35, has gone into business. “With the loan I set up a pig farm. I have ten workers and supply pork to villagers. I soon realized saving wildlife is our moral duty.” The initiative has come in the nick of time according to Father Ignatius Bindu Hembrom, parish priest of Chandpukur parish in Naogaon, himself a tribal Santal. “Hunting is part of tribal tradition. But they didn’t realize their food supply would end if all the wildlife was killed. They now know we need to create sanctuaries to save wildlife,” he said.
