I request the officials concerned to not give permission to anyone to engage in hunting and sale of migratory birds
BADIN: As soon as winter approaches, thousands of migratory water birds from Siberia and Central Asia begin arriving in spectacular arrays of flight patterns to spend their winter in the coastal areas of Badin district and other parts of Sindh where sanctuaries are available. This year, the guest birds are comparatively lower in number than those which came in the preceding years. The reason could be enhanced illegal human activities and degradation of the lakes in Sindh.
Frequent hunting and the open sale of trapped migratory birds, including the great Indian bustard, the white crane, the purple grey heron, the teal, the pintail, the shoveler and the common nipper, at high prices are witnessed in this district. Hunting of these birds go on unabated, with bird killers being facilitated through agents and facing no restrictions at all. Water fowls are being sold to influential people, traders, rich men and officials in Badin, thereby bringing in a lot of money in profits illegally.
The area around the Nareri Lake, Sando, and other lakes in Badin like, Tando Bago, Golarchi, and other spots which serve as sanctuaries, often see influential persons fishing. Apart from fishing these persons also indulge in shooting migratory birds for profits. It is no surprise then that wildlife is vanishing fast from Badin district.
A wildlife expert has told me that there was a lack of awareness about protecting such precious heritage, as well as a failure to enforce the ban on hunting. This was the main reason for the reduction in the number of migratory birds in the area. These birds are trapped and hunted right under the noses of officials. All of this is done with the knowledge of conservators of the department concerned. Despite the ban on hunting and on the sale of these birds, the police are seen to openly allow the sale of these species in the market. I request the officials concerned to preserve migratory water fowls and not give permission to anyone to engage in hunting and sale of these precious species.
Shahid Ahmed Qureshi
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2015.
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