SWD sets free two hawks

Eight hawks seized by the police and SWD teams around two months ago

KARACHI:

Two out of eight hawks confiscated during an operation in Mowach Goth two months ago were set free at the Sufi Anwer Shah Safari Park by the Sindh Wildlife Department on Friday.

According to SWD Chief Conservator Javed Ahmed Mahar, eight hawks were seized by the police and SWD teams around two months ago. Obstructing a smuggling bid, the police had stopped a car at a check post in Mowach Goth around two months ago and informed the SWD of the presence of eight caged hawks.

Reaching the site, the SWD teams had recovered the birds, freed them from captivity and shifted them to the The Customs Preventive Service Club and Sports Complex for rehabilitation. One of the hawks could unfortunately not recover from the trauma of captivity and died soon after.

"The wild nature of any bird is affected when it is kept in a cage as that is not its natural environment," said Mahar speaking to The Express Tribune.

"Many birds contract viral infections and thus the rescued hawks were kept under observation at the customs sports complex," he added.

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The remaining five hawks will also be released into their natural environment within the next few days, assured the chief conservator. Mahar added that under the rules of his department, the trading of hawks is strictly restricted.

Coming into force last July, the Sindh Wildlife Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management Act 2020 repealed the weaker Sindh Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1972 and increased the ambit of protection for wild animals and birds in the province.

It gave SWD staff status of the police and expanded coverage to even those wild animals, which enter the province via trans-boundary migration or as a result of human activity.

Under the Act, all acts of hurting wild animals – intentional or unintentional – are deemed cruel and are strictly prohibited. The law criminalized posting pictures of hunted birds and animals on social media.

Moreover, the use of wild animals for fighting and baiting is banned, and strong action would be taken against people using undersized cages or enclosures that cause discomfort to animals, according to the Act.