Small victories: Black-pond turtles released into freshwater lake

The endangered species had been seized by Customs officials at Karachi Airport.

HALEJI: The black-pond turtles, seized from Jinnah airport, have finally been released in Asia's largest bird sanctuary - Haleji Lake, located around 100 kilometres from Karachi.

Customs officials had confiscated 218 endangered turtles from a passenger travelling to Bangkok on September 20. Unfortunately, 45 of them have died in the 12 days since.



"It is a phenomenon called the translocation mortality," explained Sindh wildlife department's conservator, Javed Ahmed Mahar. "The deaths were not caused by mishandling." He explained that the smuggler, Sajid Cheema, was carrying the protected species in briefcases, adding that unnatural treatment with the species ultimately led to their deaths.

There are eight species of turtles found in Sindh; the black-pond species being the most endangered variety. The protected black-pond turtles are found in various freshwater bodies of Sindh and it is assumed that the smugglers collected them from different areas.

The Haleji Lake, situated in district Thatta, is a new location for the species as according to officials posted at the lake, they haven't earlier observed the species around it.

Besides senior officials of the wildlife department, representatives of the World Wide Fund for Nature - Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan), media persons and students of local schools participated in the release ceremony that took place on court orders.

A day before the consignment was seized at the airport, the Sindh government had released around 200 black-pond turtles, that had been seized at the Pak-China border by the Chinese authorities.

The secretary for wildlife, forest and environment, Naila Wajid Khan, said that the Sindh government was taking all possible measures to conserve the unique freshwater species. "We have declared them protected species and will impose heavy penalties against offenders," she added.

The provincial secretary said that the turtles were being smuggled to China, Hong Kong and other South East Asian countries from Pakistan.

Earlier, the fine for the whole consignment was Rs50,000. According to the revised fines, the smuggler will be fined Rs12,000 for each live turtle, while Rs20,000 will be charged for each dead species.

Officials admitted that illegal trade of endangered species in the province is being carried out since the last 15 years. They hope, however, that the stricter measures by the wildlife department will restrict the illegal movement of turtles.

"The illegal trade of black-spotted turtles has escalated due to their increased demand over the past two years," said Uzma Noureen, the project coordinator of the WWF-Pakistan. She added that these turtles live along the entire Indus River and in other wetlands and are a vital part of the freshwater ecosystem. They perform various ecological services which will be disturbed if they are withdrawn from the system. She stressed the need to ensure a robust monitoring mechanism at the exit points of all international airports to mitigate animal trafficking. "At least three to four facilities to keep confiscated turtles should also be set up across country," she suggested.

"Releasing the turtles was one great achievement on the part of WWF-Pakistan and the Sindh Wildlife Department as everyone is now sensitised to act against illegal wildlife trade," said Altaf Hussain Shaikh, WWF-Pakistan's conservation manager for Sindh. " We have relayed a strong message to poachers to refrain from harming wildlife or else face strict punitive action."

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2014.