Transmitter attached to ANAKIN is now retrieved from Myanmar

In May 2007, BCST together with Kasetsart University's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (KUFVM) and Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) rehabilitated and released an endangered Cinereous Vulture whose worldwide number was down to only about 10,000. The bird, named 'Anakin' after a Jedi turned villian in an epic film 'Starwars' because of its being a juvenile bird with all black colour, was attached with a transmitter, of which its purchase and satellite fees were paid by Singha Corporation, to study its movement. BCST sadly learned later that 'Anakin' was shot dead in Myanmar and the transmitter was kept by a Shan State Army soldier.
With kind assistance from the Director of Wildlife Conservation Division, DNP, the transmitter is now returned in good condition to the Wild Bird Rehabilitation Fund (WBRF) of which BCST is its secretariat. Dr.Chaiyan Kasorndokbua of the KUFVM, a fund committee member, has already made contact to reactivate the telemetry on April 23, 2008, and a result whether the transmitter is still functioning or not would be known in about two weeks. If not, it would be sent for repair by its producer in the USA. The transmitter will then be handed to KUFVM's Raptor Rehabilitation Unit to be attached to another rehabilitated raptor for scientific study later.