Wildlife policy in Bangladesh DR. NAZMUL HODA Zoo Veterinarian , Bangladesh National Zoo Department of Livestock Services Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Bangladesh. Virtual Meeting on Wildlife Health for OIE Members in South Asia Wednesday 13th January 2021 Wildlife policy Act : Wildlife (Protection and Security) Act 2012 Rules : 1. Pet Bird Management Rules 2020 2. Crocodile Rearing Rules 2019 3. Deer and Elephant Rearing Rules 2017 ◦ Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock regulates Animal Health related issues. Wildlife disease investigation is made in the laboratories of Department of Livestock Services and BLRI as well. ◦ Ministry of Environment , Forest and Climate Change is going to establish an wildlife disease diagnostic laboratory and other steps for wildlife disease surveillance. Till now MoEFCC has no role on wildlife disease investigation. Activities relating to wildlife Veterinary Services relating to wildlife ◦ clinical care of wildlife 1. Veterinarians of DLS are associated with clinical care of wild animals all over the country. 2. Rescue of wild animals in collaboration with forest department. 3. Bangladesh National Zoo and Rangpur Zoo has wild animal Hospitals and Skill manpower for wildlife treatment. 4. Immunization of Captive wild animals. 5. Wildlife disease diagnosis. Disease reporting Summary of key diseases reported in wildlife in the past year Central Disease Investigation Laboratories (CDIL) has analysed wildlife samples from both sick and dead animals. In the past year (2020) we have reported tuberculosis, New Castlte Disease, Mycoplasmosis, Pasteurellosis, Coli-enteritis, Chlostridial Enteritis, Dermatitis, Mange, Ring Worm , Tape worm infestation, Cryptosporidiosis, Giardiasis,Coccidiosis and Capture Myopathy . One Health Outline how wildlife are included in One Health activities ◦ In Bangladesh there is an One Health Secretariat where three government officials are working from DLS, Forest Department and Department Health Services. Among the 3 officials 2 are veterinarians actively engaged with Zoonotic disease outbreak management, strategy formulation by data sharing. ◦ Wildlife Veterinarians from DLS and Forest department are working as life member of One Health Bangladesh. Each year there is a conference of OHB where wildlife veterinarians share there experiences and research findings. Future activities Priority activities relating to wildlife health in your country over 2021-2022. 1) Wildlife disease surveillance- ◦ a)We need to uphold the wildlife disease surveillance system. ◦ b) Development of Animal restraining techniques avoiding death risk of animals. ◦ c) Enrichment of diagnostic facilities. ◦ d) Use of wildlife monitoring devices . Future Activities 2) Risk assessment at wildlife-domestic animals interface ◦ In the field level both forest department and DLS should work jointly for risk assessment at wildlife- domestic animals interface. 3) Wildlife Veterinarian Pool : DLS operates 02 Zoos in Bangladesh. Skill vets with experience on wildlife Health are returning back to mainstream. We should establish an Wildlife Pool and Wildlife Laboratory..