Illegal hunters face arrests, penalties

Wildlife officials capture, release 10,000 birds, 40 animals in 2023

RAWALPINDI:

The Punjab Wildlife Protection Department issued 1,242 challans against illegal poachers in Rawalpindi district in 2023.

The department captured and released 10,000 wild birds and 40 wild animals and issued Rs14.202 million fine to illegal hunters last year. A Rawalpindi court also imposed Rs37,000 fine on illegal poachers.

The department issued 5,507 challans and fines worth Rs62.567 million against illegal poachers across the province. As many 113 poachers were sent to jail and more than 50 illegal weapons were seized.

The department freed a total of 150,000 birds including sparrows, minas, quails, peacocks, hummingbirds, bulbuls, wild pigeons and doves, while more than 100 animals like monkeys, bears, cheetah, foxes and deer were also freed in the forests.

Per the official statistics, illegal hunters also injured seven armless field staff last year.

Punjab Wildlife and Parks director-general Mubeen Elahi said that despite limited resources, all national parks have been expanded and the protection of wild animals and birds has also been enhanced in 2023.

He said that the department has zero-tolerance policy against illegal hunting and strict enforcements have improved wildlife this year. “Our forests and national parks are already abundantly filled with birds and wild animals and 2004 will see a further increase in wildlife.”

Mubeen made it clear that hunting wild boar with hunting dogs is strictly prohibited and that the field teams have clear instructions in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th 2024.