Illegal hunting videos to draw legal action

IT experts will be deployed in monitoring cell for social media

LAHORE: The Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department has decided to set up a separate cell to take action against those who illegally hunt protected birds and share their photographs and videos on social media.

Reportedly, the cell will monitor photos and videos of protected birds and animals on social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and take legal action against those involved in hunting them.

The services of the Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) will also be sought for the purpose. Punjab Wildlife's Department’s Honorary Game Warden Badar Munir confirmed that some people hunted animals and birds and shared their photos and videos on social media.

Stern action will be taken against those involved in illegal hunting of animals and birds that are protected under the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act, 1974.

Munir said the action would be targeted against those who challenge the authorities by not only getting involved in illegal hunting but also advertise it.

He said young experts of information technology would be employed in the new cell.

The cell will collect details of those who share photos and videos of hunted animals and birds.

The monitoring cell will regularly monitor various social media sites and send pictures of illegal hunters to the officers in charge of the departments concerned in their areas. Based on the evidence, action will be taken against those involved in illegal hunting after a thorough investigation.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2020.