Professor Mohammad Mostafa Feeroz, chairman, department of zoology, said that Prof de Silva said so after a visit to the WRC a rescue centre to rehabilitate animals in trauma that the centre was the first of its kind in South Asia.

Initially the department of zoology aimed at developing a field laboratory for wildlife to preserve threatened fauna of JU.

But later, the department developed the WRC on the allocated five acres of land along with a water body nearby at the southern corner of the campus. The centre is now used as a field laboratory to save endangered wildlife of Bangladesh.

"The wetlands, woodlands and grasslands of the campus are the habitats of at least 22 nationally threatened wildlife species," said Prof Feeroz. "It is remarkable that such a large number of threatened species is found on the campus, which is not a formal sanctuary," he added.

He said that the department made use of this rare opportunity in October 2004 to establish the WRC.

"The centre is devoted particularly to research on wildlife conservation through rescuing wild animals, captive breeding, re-introduction and non-formal environmental education," Prof Feeroz said.

Students and teachers of the department donated their stipend and a share of their research funds to develop the WRC with six teachers regularly contributing to the WRC fund.

MA Aziz, a lecturer of the department said that M.Phil students and he contributed their stipend for the WRC's sanctuary.

"But the physical labour we put in for the WRC at the initial stages is tremendous," he said.

On the achievements of the centre, Professor Feeroz said: "We have rescued the following animals: Smooth-coated Otter (Lutra perspecillata), Barn Owl (Tyto alba), Collared Scoops Owl (Otus bakkamoena), Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Spotted Flapshell Turtle (Lissemy punctata), Python, Stork bill kingfisher and many others."

We have also been successful in the captive breeding of the Smooth-coated Otter (Lutra perspecillata), Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis), Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii), Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica), Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa), and the Boulenger's Frog (Rana alticola)", he added.

The centre has rescued a huge python from Srimangal. M Yousuff, a fourth class employee of the centre, feeds it with one rat a week.

Padma Kumur Tongchangya, supervisor of the centre, said: "I help students with their fieldwork. In addition, I take care all of the wild animals which live openly at the centre."

The WRC plans to establish captive breeding facility for endangered turtles of Bangladesh along with an amphibian pool for the semi-natural breeding of different amphibian species, said Prof Feeroz.