Punjab wildlife department withholds urial survey results

The survey on the population of Punjab's national animal, the Urial, has been completed, but the Punjab Wildlife Department is reluctant to release the data.

Experts suspect that the rampant illegal hunting of Urial may have contributed to a decline in their population.

According to sources within the Federal Ministry of Climate Change, the results of the survey will be reviewed, after which the annual quota for trophy hunting of Urial in Punjab will be announced.

The trophy hunting season for Urial runs from October 1 to March 31, and every year, the Ministry allocates a specific hunting quota to Punjab Wildlife. However, as of now, the hunting quota for this year has not been announced, and the schedule for trophy hunting remains unclear.

The Punjab Wildlife Act mandates that a survey of the Urial population be conducted every September, and this year's survey has been completed. The survey was conducted with the assistance of the Punjab Wildlife Research and Survey Department, WWF, and other wildlife experts. However, the department has been withholding the survey data so far.

In 2018, the estimated population of Punjab Urial was around 3,700, which increased to 5,757 in 2022. Last year, the population estimate reached 6,891. The detailed survey report has already been submitted to the Federal Ministry of Climate Change, which has confirmed receipt of the data.

After reviewing the survey findings, the ministry will announce the quota for trophy hunting, with a strong possibility of Punjab receiving a hunting quota this year as well.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of Punjab Wildlife Headquarters informed Express News that the process of registering Community-Based Conservation Zones (CBCs) in Punjab is still ongoing.

The trophy hunting schedule will be announced only after the registration of these CBCs. In Punjab, 20 zones have been designated to protect the habitats of Urials and pheasants, and each zone will have a registered CBC. However, only one CBC has been registered so far.

Wildlife experts warn that the delay in announcing the trophy hunting schedule could result in missed opportunities for foreign hunters, who come to Pakistan for Markhor hunting and may have the option to participate in Urial trophy hunting as well. Last year, the reserve price for an Urial trophy was set at $21,000, and this year, the price is expected to increase.

Last week an operation led by Deputy Director of Wildlife Dr. Ghulam Rasool in Lahore resulted in the recovery of 31 protected wild birds during a house search, conducted following special search warrants by Assistant Director Waseem Haider.

The recovered birds included 8 lovebirds, 20 parakeets, and 3 plum-headed parakeets. Wildlife officials arrested one individual, and the recovered birds were transferred to Lahore Safari Zoo under court orders.