Special teams to prevent hunting in wildlife reserves

The Punjab Wildlife Department has approved the formation of special teams at the district level in an attempt to crack down on the illegal hunting of wild animals and birds and simultaneously promote the breeding of endangered species.

The notification, issued by the office of director general of the wildlife department, said that hunters with permits, government officials and district forest officers will be part of these special teams, known as ‘reserve committees’.

Their efforts will be geared towards protecting wildlife from both legal and illegal hunting. They will also assist in creating and executing targeted measures to promote the breeding and conservation of animals in state forests and areas designated as national parks.

The population of wild species of urial (wild sheep with curling horns), neel gaye (blue bull from the antelope family), phara (hog deer), deer, gazelle, peacocks, and black partridges have reportedly declined, which is why such measures have been initiated, said one source inside the wildlife department.

The source said that these committees have been formed with the aim to revitalize the natural habitats of wildlife in both public and privately-owned dense forests.

According to the notification issued by Wildlife DG Mubeen Elahi, these special reserve committees will be constituted across Punjab from next week.

The committee members would have the authority to penalise those involved in illegal hunting.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2023.