Rare blind dolphin killed in Dera

DI KHAN:

Wildlife Department Dera Ismail Khan on Saturday arrested a group of illegal fishermen who killed a rare blind dolphin in Indus River using generators.

Officials told The Express Tribune that a video of a rare blind dolphin circulated on social media following which a group of illegal fishermen chased the endangered species and hunted it by electrocution with generators.

The Wildlife Department was informed about the presence of these fishermen which sent a team to arrest them in the Indus Game Reserve.

“Two people Fida Hussain and Sher Muhammad have been arrested. A baby dolphin has been recovered from their possession which was released in the river. Fishing nets and generators were recovered from their possession.

“An FIR has been registered against the accused under Wildlife Act 2015,” said an official of the department, adding that fishermen are hunting illegally in Perva without inviting any attention and they had killed many rare Indus River dolphins.

He warned that all those found involved in illegal netting or electrocuting, blasting or poisoning would be arrested and FIR would be registered against them.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2022.