Poachers pay heavy fines for shooting protected deer

KARACHI:

Five offenders paid Sindh Wildlife Department Rs2.3 million for illegally hunting seven Chinkara deer in Mithi, the main town of the Tharparkar district. As per law hunting deer is banned across Sindh. The offenders, Ali Ahmed, Salam Bari, Abdul Ghani, Mohammad Saleem and Mohammad Hasan were caught red-handed by the villagers of Ranglio in July.

They also held a protest in Mithi city, the district headquarter, against the illegal hunting of deer and demanded stern action against the hunters. All the men involved in the crime were arrested and sent to jail.

During the trial at a court in Mithi, the offenders plead guilty to the crime and submitted to pay the compounding amount under section 27 of the Sindh Wildlife Protection, Preservation, Conservation, and Management Bill, 2020.

"They have paid the amount today," confirmed SWD provincial head, Javed Ahmed Mahar. "It is an unprecedented case in which the offenders have paid the fine as per the law," he added.

"The effective law could limit illegal hunting," commented Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh for Wildlife and Anti-Corruption Bangul Khan Mahar.

"And our new law is so powerful that discourages such people who violate it," he added. He said: "wildlife is weak and defenseless. Establishment of minimum deterrence of law is the key to curb the wildlife crime against defense less wildlife."

The advisor was of the view that the government of Sindh is aware of the requirement of this era of climate change. Wherein, he added, species and habitats deserve strong protection mechanisms and on-ground implementation.

During the trial, the offenders agreed to pay the compounding amount and the SWD's lawyer calculated the value. For male Chinkara deer, the offenders had to pay Rs100,000 for each male deer and Rs300,000 for each female deer while Rs20,000 for the rabbit.

The conservator said that the case property of the poachers, including the vehicle, weapons, and hunting gear were also confiscated.