Licence to kill?

The Bangladesh ministry of environment and forests has decided to grantlicence to parties interested in settingup private farms for breeding andrearing wildlife species.

The recent decision by theWildlife Advisory Board came as ahappy tiding to those who have, overhalf a decade, struggled to obtainlicence for lizard farms. Now thereare proposals to set up deer andsnake farms too.

But wildlife lovers are worriedthat permits for wildlife farms couldbe used as licences to start killingcommercially valuable wild speciesindiscriminately.

Concerned authorities were initially hesitant to allow the setting upof wildlife farms as some interestedparties seemed more keen on exporting lizard skin, froglegs and otherwildlife products.

Of several arguments advanced infavour of the animal farms, one wasthe lack of scientific informationabout different wildlife species in theabsence of proper observation facilities, which the animal farms are sup-posed to provide.

Experts, however, are not fullyconvinced that wildlife farms will becommercially viable. Crocodile farmsIn India and Thailand have becometourist attractions. Crocodile meat isconsidered a delicacy. Out them is aninternational ban on crocodile skinexport. The same is true for lizardskin - one of the most sought afterwildlife products.

Abdul Wahab Akand of theWildlife Circle, department of forestssaid, a three-year licence may begranted to farms for 'conservation' ofspecies under pilot projects, A committee would oversee their progress.