IWMB foils illegal hunting attempt

Raids clothing store, confiscates outfits made from hides of wild animals

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) foiled an illegal hunting attempt within the premises of Islamabad Club on Thursday and confiscated the hounds used in boar hunting.

According to the IWMB spokesperson, the action was taken on a tip-off of an informer who noticed some suspicious activity in the forest area adjacent to the Islamabad Club. The team of IWMB reached the spot to launch a punitive action which was resisted by the Club's guards and they did not allow the board officials to enter the premises to arrest the culprits, he added.

The IWMB spokesperson said that the hunters escaped after noticing the board team who had captured a wild boar with its mouth and limbs fastened tightly to let loose the hounds for hunting. "The hounds are now in the IWMB's possession and further legal action would be initiated," he added.

Replying to a question, the spokesman said that the wild boar was severely bitten all over his body. As per the Wildlife Ordinance, hunting was strictly prohibited within the limits of Islamabad and its protected area of Margalla Hills National Park whereas the incident site was also part of the protected area.

The wild boar was captured by the hunters who hailed from South Punjab who intended to first have the boar hunting here and then to take the prey animal to train other hounds or dogs on hunting in their native area.

In a separate incident, the IWMB team on Thursday raided a clothing store in F-6 sector of the federal capital and confiscated outfits made from wild animal hides.

According to the IWMB spokesperson, the team had impounded warm clothing made from the skin of wild animals, including Mink, Fox, Tiger and Rabbit, which was prohibited as per the law.

The apparels included sweaters, hats, jackets, neck wear and other accessories. He added that poaching of wildlife was a punishable offense in the capital.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2022.