Wildlife dept boasts of rescuing 66,000 animals in four years

On World Animal Day, tradition of cockfights, dogfights, bear-baiting denounced

KARACHI:

World Animal Day is an international day of action for animal rights and welfare celebrated every year on October 4, the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.

The day unites the animal welfare movement, mobilising it into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals.

In recent years, the trend of keeping exotic and dangerous wild animals, such as lions and tigers, as pets has gained traction in Pakistan's urban areas. At the same time, cruel practices such as animal fights - between roostes, quails, bears, and dogs - are also prevalent in some regions of the country.

Apart from this, animals are often confined in cramped cages for entertainment purposes in circuses. Karachi's pet markets, especially the one at Empress Market and in Liaquatabad, have been criticised for keeping birds in unsuitable conditions, exposed to harsh sunlight.

In rural Sindh, wildlife like leopards that venture into human settlements face lethal consequences, often being shot. The Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) claims that it has rescued a staggering 66,107 animals, including birds, reptiles, and mammals, over the past four years.

While it is common for households in both rural and urban area to raise animals such as sheep, goats, cows, buffaloes, and chickens for food, many also keep pets like cats, rabbits, and dogs. Sadly, some even acquire more dangerous species. Despite various laws enacted throughout Pakistan's history aimed at protecting these animals, enforcement remains inconsistent.

Sindh Wildlife Department's Deputy Conservator Mumtaz Soomro said that thousands of animals, including marine species, reptiles, birds, and mammals, are rescued annually.

From 2020 to 2024, the department rescued 66,107 animals, including 57,986 birds, 1,784 reptiles, and 19 mammals.

He added that the effectiveness of the 2022 ordinance implemented in Sindh, which has led to a significant reduction in the hunting and trafficking of various species, with harsher penalties for offenders.