Animal Expedition at Saidpur Cantonment Public School and College, Bangladesh: A Journey of Discovery and Learning

Department of Biology, Cantonment Public School and College, Saidpur Cantonment—5311, Nilphamari, Bangladesh

*Corresponding author: Ashraful Kabir, Department of Biology, Cantonment Public School and College, Saidpur Cantonment—5311, Nilphamari, Bangladesh, Phone: +88-01712563750; E-mail: [email protected]

Received Date: February 09, 2025

Published Date: February 28, 2025

Citation: Kabir A, et al. (2025). Animal Expedition at Saidpur Cantonment Public School and College, Bangladesh: A Journey of Discovery and Learning. Mathews J Vet Sci. 9(2):67.

Copyrights: Kabir A, et al. © (2025).

ABSTRACT

Saidpur Cantonment Public School and College is remarkable for watching many animals, especially birds. This protected educational institution could play a significant role in keeping animals of wild or domestic/farm critters. Three related research works (breeding birds of Saidpur Cantonment, birds of its teachers’ quarters-2, and birds of Bangalipur Nijpara) helped to write this composition. Out of 80 species of total animals―wild, street/feral, domestic, pet, ornamental, and farm animals were 63 (78.75%), 2, 1, 3, 6, and 5 (Table 1; Figure 1). Based on the classes of animals, 05 classes, 24 orders, 50 families, 70 genera, 80 species, and 44 subspecies were seen (Table 1; Figure 2). In addition, based on the classes of the animals, individuals were in Osteichthyes (11), Amphibia (3), Reptilia (2), Aves (59, 73.75%), and Mammalia (5) (Table 1; Figure 3). Remarkable trees (flowering, medium-sized, fruits, and long trees) (Plate 1) supported to live birds, especially herons (Plate 2).

Keywords: Birds, Animals, CPSCS, Saidpur, Bangalipur Nijpara, Teachers’ Quarters-2, Bangladesh.

INTRODUCTION

Saidpur Cantonment Public School and College of Bangladesh established on 04 April 1979. It has 1296.19 decimal of land with a more significant culture-pond (200 decimal) (Plate 1). This pond showed surrounding flowering plants and four aviaries (domestic geese (Anser anser domesticus), barbary doves (Streptopelia risoria), domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica), and budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). The bank of this pond, medium-sized trees and banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) and rubber fig (Ficus elastica) are playing a good role for sheltering many birds especially egrets and herons [1] (Plate 2). Scattered grains around the aviaries allow many birds, especially Burmese spotted doves (Spilopelia chinensis tigrina). In winter season (February―March), large deciduous plants, remarkably American mahogany trees (Swietenia mahagoni) shred their leaves in summer season (after April), house-crows (Corvus splendens splendens) and Indian pied myna (Sturnus contra contra) build their nest and complete successful breeding activities. Recently, after cutting some trees, a school building has been established. Urbanization is a problem for destroying trees is the main shelter for birds [2]. Since, Saidpur is under Rangpur Division, so all plants are evergreen here [1]. Botanical gardens and residential backyards sometimes provide a significant reservoir for many bird species [3]. Amphibians are adapted to live in many climate and ecological zones [4]. Frog metabolic wastes are more soluble than invertebrate waste [5,6]. The objective of this study is understanding the present status of the animals in Saidpur Cantonment Public School and College for their conservation.

Plate 1. Map of Saidpur Cantonment Public School and College.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Animals of Public School and College observed directly at the time of regular service from 8:00 A. M. to 3:00 P. M. and at the time of jogging from 5:00 to 6:00 P. M. (total 8 hours daily). An android mobile phone (oppo) was perfect for taking occasional photographs and voice recordings of birds. A pair of binoculars (vixen, joyful H6×18 mm, palm-sized compact binoculars) used to observe these species. A DSLR camera (Canon, EOS Rebel T3i) helped for necessary snaps of the animals. This observation centre was 25°46ˈ21.1 ̎N and 88°54ˈ52.1 ̎E longitude and latitude. This study was conducted from 2003 to 2023.

Plate 2. Important trees are representing for sheltering many birds especially herons.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Keeping ornamental fishes in aquariums is increasing in all areas of Bangladesh, especially in Saidpur [8]. Within the animal kingdom, the amphibia class plays a significant role in detecting climate and ecological zones [4]. Three amphibians are commonly found all year round except winter season (December―February) in this institution of Bangladesh [8]. Less human disturbance is a great criterion for the conservation of breeding birds [1]. Urbanization and industrialization are a problem for destroying trees [2]. Long trees have been cut for establishing an academic building, so some birds have escaped from this place. High nesting densities allowed by habitat structure may be beneficial for reduced predation [9]. The author agrees with this quote because after cutting those trees, some birds lost their proper breeding habitat. Murton and Clarke [10] found the pattern in England with the spring and summer periods accounting for 60% of the total annual breeding, whereas Kabir [1] found 34% of breeding birds in this cantonment area as well. Evergreen forests are available in the Rangpur division, so for huge insects and larvae, the birds of this area are remarkable [1]. Till now, passerine birds are available here, and this type of study was conducted by Kabir in the year 2012. Like Kabir [1], at present, a big banyan and rubber tree are important feed sources and breeding of such birds [1]. In teachers’ quarters 2 of this school and college, there were a total of 35 animals (3 reptiles, 30 birds, and 2 mammals [11]. In the present context, for cleaning bushes, animals have been decreased from this quarters. In this cantonment area, breeding animals were 11 of 15 and the highest number of birds were found in the Sturnidae family. Kitchen-thrown materials were their remarkable source of feed-stuff. Blackberry and Indian dates are still playing a good fruit source for bulbul and greater coucal. Crows play predatory behaviour toward other birds always [11], and in school and college too. Botanical gardens and residential backyards sometimes provide a significant reservoir for many bird species [3]. Flowering plants are available in this institution at the time of winter, so many sunbirds, flowerpeckers, and tailorbirds came here for sucking honey from the nectar glands of flowers. Nine birds in quarters made nest while the golden monitor-lizard (Varanus flavescens) and Indian gray mongoose (Urva edwardsii) were found with their young [11], but now this scenario is rare.

Table 1. Observed animals in Saidpur Cantonment Public School and College

Figure 1. Total number of animals on the basis of their category.

Figure 2. Number of animals on the steps of classification.

Figure 3. Classes and their corresponding animals.

    Plate 3. Aquarium inside the canteen.

Plate 4. House-crow.

CONCLUSIONS

Bushes of the south portion of field-1, kitchen waste from the students’ hostel and teachers’ quarters-2, canal, culture-pond, five aviaries and one aquarium, and a canal (North―South) were the source of feed and shelter of these animals of the campus (Plate 1). In fact, house-crows (Plate 4) were the most dominant and predator bird all the year round of this school and college. Within the canteen, aquarium with some ornamental fishes increase the beauty of this place (Plate 3). Students’, guardians, and all employees get enjoy at the time of taking snacks. When rainy season (April―May) comes, many Indian bull-frogs and golden monitor-lizards share the pond of this institution (Plate 2). This type of school and college could play a role to watching and preserving animals especially birds. Biology Department of this college is playing a positive attitude to conserve all animals. In future, if it is possible to provide a research fund on this issue, new teachers could get a chance to continue research on the animals of cantonment area.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

None.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that they have no financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced this work.

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