Illegal sale of owls foiled in Gujranwala

Five young animals seized from suspect

LAHORE:

In a crackdown on wildlife trafficking, authorities in Gujranwala apprehended a man engaged in the illicit sale of rare owl species through social media channels.

The operation resulted in the rescue of five young owls from the possession of the suspect on Wednesday.

According to officials, the suspect was fined Rs10,000 for violating the Wildlife Act.

The confiscated owls have been placed under care pending their release back into their natural habitat.

Gujranwala Wildlife Deputy Director Asim Bashir Cheema said the investigation had been initiated after a citizen reported a social media post advertising owl sales under the pseudonym Marsad Sani. Undercover personnel from the department engaged the suspect, posing as potential buyers, ultimately leading to the apprehension of the perpetrator and the rescue of the endangered owls.

Inquiries revealed that the suspect possessed a hunting licence, claiming to have captured the owl offspring during hunting expeditions for subsequent sale.

In a separate incident, officials arrested a man involved in the illegal hunting of endangered birds with an airgun. The hunter was fined over Rs25,000 for violating the wildlife protection laws.

Similarly, Jhelum Wildlife Assistant Director Usman Al Hasan and his team caught an illegal rabbit hunter, imposing a fine of Rs35,000 and confiscating the firearm used in the unlawful activity.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2024.