Animal rights: World Wildlife Day observed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

Events held across province to raise awareness about wildlife protection

SWAT/ ABBOTABAD/ PESHAWAR/ TIMERGARA: All 16 officers in the wildlife department of the province organised small-scale workshops in their respective regions on Thursday to educate locals about nature. Events were held at schools and media was briefed in various districts, to raise awareness about the need to protect wildlife and the natural habitat.

Divisional Forest Officer Iftikharuz Zaman in Abbottabad said the wildlife department was working with local communities to protect the flora and fauna in Hazara Division. He was speaking to the media at his office to mark World Wildlife Day on Thursday.

“Local communities play a vital role in protecting wildlife,” Zaman said. The department has launched various education campaigns in areas where people are living nearby different species of birds and animals, he added.

“Because of the irresponsible attitude of some hunters, some rare species of birds and animals are now facing extinction,” the divisional forest officer said, adding killing wildlife is not only affecting the environment but also humans.

Feeding the wild

“Forests in Hazara have leopards, bears, gorals, monkeys and birds of rare species,” Zaman said. He added the rumours about animals not being fed by the department are baseless. “The wildlife department is feeding the animals properly in spite of financial constraints,” he said, explaining sometimes leopards and bears move down, near populated areas, during winter.

“However, people living near the forests must inform wildlife officials immediately whenever they see a wild animal nearby,” he said. This he said would ensure the safety of both people and animals.

The initiative of trophy hunting was helping bringing down the killing of markhors in the region, Zaman said. “At least 80% of whatever is earned from this scheme is being spent in areas with markhor habitats,” Zaman told the media.

He praised local communities, saying they were protecting the markhors themselves after this initiative. “The same scheme will be launched in Galityat soon,” he said.

Environmental terrorism

A ceremony was organised at Government Centennial Model High School Timergara. The wildlife department, teachers and students attended the event. Conservator for Wildlife of Northern Region Said Muhammad Ali shed light on the importance of wildlife and its protection. “Wildlife is a gift of nature that needs proper care…[and it is now] under threat,” he said. “Environmental terrorism and population boom have become a hazard for wildlife.” The Swat division of Wildlife department also held an event at a local school in Swat to mark the day.

In the provincial capital

Wildlife Chief Conservator Safdar went on air on Radio Pakistan to mark World Wildlife Day in the city on Thursday.

The day was celebrated at several educational institutes.  Mian Shafiq, the deputy conservator at Pakistan Forest Institute, was the chief guest at an event at the zoology department in University of Peshawar. Nearly 300 students participated. Debates were held and prizes distributed.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2016.