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  PlanetArk 14 Dec 05
Bangladesh Seizes Rare Wild Birds From Market

DHAKA - Bangladesh forest officials seized more than 100 rare and protected wild birds from a market in the capital Dhaka on Tuesday, a forest official said.

"The avians mostly of Asian species were seized to discourage traders from procuring and selling wild birds, most of which are on the verge of extinction," said Forest Conservator Abdul Latif Meah.

The birds will be freed early on Wednesday, he said, adding that the drive against bird poachers will continue. Hunting wild birds is a punishable offence in Bangladesh.

As a precaution against avian flu, Bangladesh last month warned against catching or eating any of the migratory birds which fly to the country every winter from as far away as Siberia. Bangladesh so far has had no known incidence of bird flu.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed 71 people in Asia, and scientists fear it will mutate into an easily spread human virus and spark a pandemic in which millions could die.

Officials said they were monitoring wetlands around the country but so far had found no dead or sick birds.
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