Run largely on student funding and voluntary labour, the group’s rescue wing responds to public calls, treats injured animals and returns recovered wildlife to nature.
Green Explore Society, the only environmental organisation at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, has been working to protect nature and biodiversity across Bangladesh’s northeastern Sylhet region, with student volunteers rescuing injured wildlife and promoting environmental awareness.
Founded on January 11, 2012, with the motto “education for humanity”, the organisation is not limited to the university campus. It has expanded its activities to environmental protection and wildlife conservation across the Sylhet region.
One of its most humane and adventurous initiatives is its “rescue wing”. The group has no modern infrastructure, no major institutional funding and no advanced equipment for handling wildlife. Even so, its members continue their work with what they describe as deep love for animals and an unbreakable commitment.
From the campus and surrounding communities, the volunteers rescue injured owls, kites, Asian palm civets and distressed dogs and cats, caring for them until they recover. Sometimes, a phone call from a member of the public late at night sends them rushing into an unfamiliar rescue operation.
Taking injured animals to veterinarians, caring for them with patience and releasing them back into nature once they recover have become part of their daily mission. Most of the cost of this work comes from students’ own pockets and voluntary labour.
“Our activities are mostly run through members’ personal funding and voluntary labour,” said Faruk Kazi, president of Green Explore Society at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology. “Without any major financial support, the organisation’s members work day and night to save animal lives. Many times, they rush to rescue operations late at night after receiving calls from ordinary people. A sense of humanitarian responsibility and love for animals are the main strength of this work.”
Alongside wildlife rescue, the organisation has been working to build a greener and more sustainable world. Its members carry out plastic waste removal drives, regular cleanliness campaigns, tree planting and awareness activities on the harmful impacts of climate change.
Through workshops and seminars, Green Explore Society encourages young people to adopt environmentally friendly lifestyles. It also works with national and international environmental organisations to take its environmental protection efforts to wider society.
