Wildlife dept bans bird trapping, selling

Officials nab nine hunters in Chakwal, Jhelum; impose fines

RAWALPINDI:

The Punjab Wildlife Department has banned the hunting of sparrows and other birds released as a charitable ritual and ordered the arrest of trappers, impose heavy fines on them, and release the birds.

The department also banned trapping of birds with nets in forests and selling across Punjab, including Rawalpindi Division.

Sources said that citizens free these captured birds by paying a huge amount as charity while the trappers hunt these birds with nets in the forests and then sell them in the market to earn money. The officials of the department arrested nine hunters in Chakwal and Jhelum and imposed a fine of Rs169,000 on them. They also released all the birds.

Rawalpindi Region Deputy Director Arifa Batool directed officials concerned to take action and arrested 14 hunters and fined Rs140,000. They also seized wild pigs, wild pigeons, quails, and sparrows from their possession.

In order to prevent the hunting of visiting aquatic birds, the staff members of the Punjab Wildlife Department have ensured strict checking in the six districts of Rawalpindi Division, Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal and Talagang.

The secretary has issued orders for the immediate arrest of the trappers and the registration of cases against trappers.

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