A matter of hide: Shopkeeper caught selling skins of endangered animals

SDFO says more raids to be conducted in future

PESHAWAR: The wildlife department raided a shop in Qissa Khwani Bazaar and confiscated the skins of wild animals from a shopkeeper on Wednesday.

Talking to The Express Tribune, wildlife sub-division forest officer (SDFO) Sardar Ali said following reports against a particular shopkeeper, a raid was conducted in Qissa Khwani Bazaar. Bashir Ahmed Khan, the shopkeeper, was found selling skins of endangered species like leopards and hog deers. An FIR has been registered against Bashir Ahmad Khan under Section 51 of Wildlife and Biodiversity Act 2015.

“With the exception of foxes, all the other animals whose skins were on sale included species on the verge of extinction, for example, hog deers, common leopards and Himalayan Monal pheasants,” said Ali.

Ali believed animals like common leopards were hunted or trapped in Kohistan and then their skins were brought to Peshawar for sale. “Some of the skins looked like they had been imported – like the ones of hares and bears,” he added.

The SDFO said a shop in Kohati Gate was raided and six chukar partridges as well as a few black partridges were recovered. “The shopkeeper was fined but the birds were returned to him,” he said.

According to Sardar, people kept the birds for fighting as well as pets. However, partridge netting, particularly of chukar, is completely banned. He added more raids against shopkeepers dealing in animal skins were going to be conducted.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2015.