Punjab’s wildlife department lacking research capabilities

Despite it being responsible for the protecting and monitoring different marine species, Punjab Wildlife has had a lacklustre performance in doing so; resultantly, the population of some aquatic animals has dwindled in the province.

Part of the reason why the department has not been able to produce results is a lack of investment in research. According to Punjab Wildlife sources privy to the matter, the department does not have a separate aquatic life research centre or museum An investigation carried out by The Express Tribune also revealed that the department has never conducted any survey to know the exact number of species of aquatic life in the province.

On the other hand, Punjab Fisheries, which has both research facilities and a museum, contrary to its responsibility of increasing the breeding and production of the different species of marine life found in Punjab, has only worked on raising different types of fish for nutritional needs.

Wildlife ecologist, Dr Waseem Ahmed, commenting on this lack of departmental cohesion, said that both departments had failed to do their job. “Punjab Fisheries releases fish seed but Punjab Wildlife fails to monitor or protect them. Overall, marine life has struggled in the province as there is a clear lack of conservation efforts,” Dr Ahmed informed, adding that the departments needed to invest in manpower and research.

A former director of the wildlife department, speaking under the condition of anonymity, said that the lack of conservation efforts was apparent as no steps had been taken to save aquatic animals like crocodiles, turtles, and otters from extinction. “There was a time when rare turtles were abundant in the River Ravi and other rivers but are now extinct.

Similarly, different species of frogs are also on the verge of extinction but no one seems to care.” Mudassar Hassan, Deputy Director at Punjab Wildlife, when asked about the department’s indifference to protecting marine animals, said that various projects had been started at Taunsa and Chashma Barrages under which new boats and other modern equipment are being provided to the staff.

However, Hassan conceded that the department did not have any separate centre and lab for research on aquatic life. “The department is trying to play its role in the protection of aquatic life. We are conducting surveys on the different species of marine life in Punjab with the help of various education institutions and NGOs,” Hassan told The Express Tribune.