Wildlife dept recovers eight endangered falcons

Birds were seized from two passengers on a Dera Murad Jamali-bound bus

KARACHI: The Sindh wildlife department recovered eight falcons from a passenger bus on Wednesday near the Karachi Toll Plaza. According to officials, the endangered falcons were recovered from a Dera Murad Jamali-bound bus during routine checking by officials of the wildlife department and Rangers.

“We have arrested two persons and registered an FIR against them,” said Waheed Baloch, a conservator at the wildlife department.

According to Baloch, the falcons were being smuggled to Middle Eastern countries but the wildlife officials foiled the bid. “We will release these falcons in the Kirthar National Park, which is their actual habitat,” he said, adding that the culprits will either be presented in court for judicial remand or released after paying a Rs50,000 fine.



Mumtaz Soomro, the field officer who raided the bus, told The Express Tribune that they had no previous information about the birds. The falcons were packed in cartons and were recovered from the rooftop of the bus, he said. “There is a group involved in smuggling endangered species to Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other countries. We have started an investigation and will bust the group,” he vowed.