Over 3,000 wild animals seized

Rs2.5 million worth of fines imposed on 168 accused in crackdown against wildlife smuggling

LAHORE:

In an ongoing crackdown on wildlife trafficking, the Wildlife Combing Operation spearheaded by the Punjab government has seized 3,159 protected animals and birds across the province.

Under the supervision of Director General Wildlife & Parks Punjab, Mudassir Riaz Malik, the operation has led to the challaning of 168 accused, who now face fines totalling Rs2.5 million.

Under the guidance of DG Wildlife Mudassir Riaz Malik and on the instructions of Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, the Wildlife Combing Operation began in the last decade of the previous month.

Extensive operations were conducted indiscriminately across all districts of the province, with DG Wildlife personally overseeing operations at the Tollinton Market, Lahore's renowned bird market.

Over the past three weeks, the operation has yielded significant results, with 168 accused challaned under the Wildlife Act.

A total fine of Rs2.5 million has been imposed on them. The seized animals include 14 black bears, 34 monkeys, one tiger, one lioness, one wolf, one pangolin, two wild cats, two civet cats, one langur, one Urial lamb, one mongoose, one python, and various species of birds, totalling 3,159 animals and birds.

Among the confiscated birds are 127 Alexandrine Parakeets, 274 Rose-ringed parrots, macaws, cockatiels, and common parrots, along with 102 black, brown, and see-see partridges, 114 quails, 26 pheasants, 35 peacocks, 54 mynas, bank mynas, and 84 other wild birds.

Additionally, 2,502 house sparrows and 25 monitor lizards were seized during the operation, along with the recovery of one dead body of a common leopard.

DG Wildlife Mudassir Riaz Malik hailed the ongoing operation's success as satisfactory and reaffirmed his commitment to continue until all protected wild animals and birds are recovered.

He emphasised that illegal possession of such animals, listed in Schedule 3 of the Wildlife Act, constitutes a crime. The department has urged to report any such instances through social media and other communication channels.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2024.