Campaign to protect endangered bird garuda

Dhading, September 10

Gajuri Rural Municipality Office has launched a campaign for protection of the endangered bird species — garuda, a legendary bird or bird-like creature in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain mythologies — in Dhading.

The local level, in coordination with the community has taken initiatives for the conservation of garuda. The bird has been sighted in the local Belkhu Khola and its periphery for the past many years.

The rural municipality has distributed pamphlets, leaflets and other informative materials to students and locals, citing the importance of garuda. Hoarding boards have also been kept in areas where the garuda species is found.  The rural municipality invited ornithologists Krishna Bhusal and Prashant Ghimire from Bird Conservation Nepal to participate in the awareness campaign.

Rural Municipality Chair Rajendra Bikram Basnet said an orientation programme was also organised for students of Kiranchowk Secondary and Kiranchowk Katunje Secondary schools. He added that conservation policy and programmes were made public for the protection of rare birds.