Honour for Dubai's wildlife specialist, Dr. Reza Khan

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Honour for Dubais wildlife specialist, Dr. Reza Khan
Dubai-based wildlife conservationist Dr. Reza Khan receives lifetime achievement award from Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid in Dhaka.

Dubai - Dr. Reza Khan has over 24 books, 50 publications, and several other feathers in his cap.

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Published: Sat 5 Mar 2016, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Sun 6 Mar 2016, 9:19 AM

Dubai's very own wildlife specialist Dr. Reza Khan has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award in his home country Bangladesh.
The President of Bangladesh Abdul Hamid presented him the award at the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Daily Star newspaper held last month.
To mark its silver jubilee, the largest circulating English newspaper in Bangladesh feted 24 eminent personalities and one institution with excellent contributions in various fields.
"I'm extremely happy and humbled to have been honoured for excellence in contributions to wildlife stream," Dr. Khan told Khaleej Times.
The family of the 69-year-old wildlife conservationist was present with him when he visited Dhaka for receiving the award.
In a special bulletin on the awardees, the Daily Star noted that Dr. Mohammad Ali Reza Khan spends most of his time spreading awareness about the importance of protecting the biodiversity of the world.
Born on January 1, 1947 in Manikganj, Dr. Khan completed his Higher Secondary Certificate from Manikganj Debendra Nath College. In 1965, he began his tryst with nature and animals during a trip with his teacher and mentor, Kali Narayan.
During his studies at Notre Dame College, he went on several nature excursions with his teacher, Dwijen Sarma. This served to intensify his love for nature.
He completed his PhD in Ornithology from Bombay University in India in 1977 under the supervision of one of the most eminent orinthologists of the subcontinent, the 'Birdman' of India, Salim Ali.
In 1983, he moved to the UAE to take on the role of the curator of the Al Ain Zoo and Aquarium. He became the head of Dubai Zoo in 1989 and then went on to become a specialist in wildlife and zoo management in 2010.
A former member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission and World Commission on Park and Protected Area, Dr. Reza Khan is currently serving as specialist on Wildlife & Zoo Management at the Public Parks and Horticulture Department of Dubai Municipality.
He had taught at Rajshahi University for a short time, and during his tenure there, he collected a large number of specimens for the university's museum.
He also unveiled the Kudum Cave located in Teknaf to the public. His research on the biodiversity of Saint Martin's enabled the inclusion of six new species of fish, and one new species of crabs in the list of the country's wildlife.

Feathers in his cap
Dr. Reza Khan has over 24 books, 50 publications, and several other feathers in his cap.
The Government of Dubai has so far published four of his books including, "Indigenous Trees of the UAE", and "Birds of Dubai - A Pictorial Guide."
One of his most significant contributions to wildlife conservation efforts is "Wildlife of Bangladesh - Checklist and Guide," the first book on wildlife in Bangladesh that not only provides zoological names in Bangla and English, but is also a field guidebook on almost all of the 1,082 species of wildlife in the country.
As recognition of his outstanding contribution to wildlife conservation, he was awarded the Shaikh Mubarak Award for Wildlife Conservation in 2001.
He also received the National Bangabandhu Award in 2010 for his contributions towards the conservation of wildlife in Bangladesh.
sajila@khaleejtimes.com


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