Partridge hunting gets the green light

Wildlife department to monitor prohibited areas during the season

LAHORE:

In Punjab, hunting of partridge has received the green light and is likely to begin as early as this week. However, hunting will only be allowed on Sundays across the 40 tehsils of the province.

According to details, a formal notification is to be issued soon. “Partridge hunting will be allowed between November – February and only on Sundays,” said one senior official at the provincial wildlife department.

Only license holders, the official said, would be allowed to take part in the hunting. “Those who have the license for firearms and hunting will be allowed to take part.”

Details provided by the department show that hunting of black, brown and see-see partridge will have limits defined by the Schedule One of the Punjab Wildlife Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management (Amendment) Act, 2007.

“All kind of hunting would be prohibited in wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and special areas protected under the Act,” said Punjab Wildlife Honorary Game Warden Badar Munir.

Violations, Munir cautioned, will be treated as per rules. “All regional and district officers of the department have been instructed to monitor areas where hunting is prohibited. Those who violate the rules will be penalized,” said Munir.

Munir pointed out that black partridge is rarer than any other type. “People have tried breeding the bird, but they have not been successful,” said the warden. Interestingly, the Lahore Zoo has a large variety of birds, but the black partridge is missing from the display. The primary reason for that, Munir said, is that it is a native bird that only thrives in the natural environment.

Partridges, experts said, prefer areas that are near waterways. They dwell around crops to protect themselves from predators. They are also found in arid mountainous areas and deserts. In Pakistan, the black partridge is found in Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab. The Salt Range area of Punjab, particularly Mianwali, has the largest population of black partridge.

According to wildlife experts, the brown partridge has reached the point of near extinction due to poaching. They said poachers sell black partridges for Rs 5,000 - Rs 35,000. However, some breeds are more expensive. Medium-sized and non-migratory, these birds have five different species.

The black partridge, experts believe is already on the list of endangered species. While that is rare, the brown partridge is almost getting there. It is now being sold for Rs. 1,000 in local markets.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2020.