Wildlife under threat in Waziristan

Absence of animal protection laws endanger many species

DI KHAN:

Waziristan - a hotbed of the long war on terrorism - has not only seen the displacement of millions of people but also that of many species of wildlife. The war against militancy has caused great damage to the habitats of many animals, causing them to become easier targets for hunters.

Wild animals like pigs, monkeys, porcupines, jackals, foxes, wild rabbits were abundant in the thick forests of Shahwal mountains. These species now face severe threats to their lives. Shahwal mountains are between North and South Waziristan on the border of Afghanistan.



Ehsan Wazir heads Waziristan Nature Conservation Organisation (WNCO). He told The Express Tribune Shahwal the mountain range was where Operation Zarb-e-Azb against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan was taking place in North Waziristan Agency.

Wazir said since the area was under war, habitats of these animals in Shahwal mountains have been exposed. “Six pigs were shot dead in Zare Noor area, west of Wana Bazaar by locals and Afghans,”



Wazir added, “1,700 cranes were either captured or killed, mostly in Zar Milan plain in Toi Khulla tehsil of Wana, South Waziristan this year.” He said Waziristan is not only home to indigenous wildlife but also a route of international migratory birds. “These birds live near Zohb River and pass it twice every year,” he added.  According to Wazir, very little work has been done to protect wildlife in Waziristan. “Awareness campaigns through forest department are rare and many projects remain incomplete,” he said. “The administrative influence of unaudited and unaccountable political agents hinders the work of the department to a great extent.”



My sheep for a crane

Wazir said in the absence of any protective measures and laws, the area has turned into a hub of hunters and smugglers.

Highlighting the struggles he went through to conserve wildlife in the district, Wazir recounted an incident about trying to rescue cranes. He said when local crane hunters from South Waziristan were caught by officials based on a tip-off he gave the department, the crane hunters called a jirga. There, Wazir was held responsible for the arrest.

“The jirga decided in favour of nanawatai to tackle the situation and I had to give two lambs in exchange,” he added. Nanawatai refers to a tribal custom where the offending party offers itself up to the aggrieved party which often decides on a violence-less punishment.

According to DI Khan Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abdul Haleem, war is just one of the problems that has threatened wildlife in Waziristan.



“Population growth, forest cutting, and especially hunting done in the absence of wildlife laws are also endangering the animals,” he said. Haleem added while former K-P governor Lieutenant General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah had suggested an extension of the wildlife act to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, no work was done regarding it and to date, it remains unimplemented.

“A fresh survey assessing the situation of current wildlife should be carried out soon,’’ Haleem suggested.

Waziristan is a mixture of fertile plains, valleys and mountains. Zindawar, the massive organic pine nuts field, is home to many animals but is unfortunately more accessible to hunters and smugglers.

The Sulaiman mountain range, also in South Waziristan, serves as a habitat to the leopard, black bear, Sulaiman Markhor, wolf, Houbara bustard and many other animals. Unless laws protecting these animals are formulated and implemented, wildlife in Waziristan will face extinction in many areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th,  2015.