Penalties for illegal hunting hiked

Vehicles, guns, nets to be confiscated

LAHORE:

The provincial government has introduced significant amendments to the Punjab Wildlife Act, tightening penalties for illegal hunting, trade, and harm to wild animals.

Under the new provisions, offenders will not only be required to pay the departmental compensation for the hunted species but will also face heavy fines for vehicles, weapons, or other equipment used during the act.

However, a wildlife expert and former honorary game warden, Badr Munir, alleged that bureaucratic elements within the department concerned are introducing clauses that could undermine the chief minister's vision for wildlife conservation.

According to him, the new law focuses largely on penalties and powers rather than on ecological conservation, species rehabilitation, and community-based management.

"If a hunter shoots a partridge using a rifle and vehicle, he will be fined around Rs150,000 to Rs200,000, but if someone captures dozens of partridges using nets, the fine will be only a few thousand rupees," he pointed out.

He termed this imbalance "unfair and counterproductive," arguing that it could encourage commercial poachers who already pose a severe threat to wildlife populations.

Munir also criticised the abolition of the Honorary Game Warden system, which existed under the 1974 Act.

"These wardens acted as a bridge between the department, local communities, and hunting groups. They volunteered to monitor illegal hunting and supported conservation in the field. With this system gone, community involvement will weaken considerably," he said.

In response, Punjab Additional Chief Wildlife Ranger Syed Kamran Bukhari clarified that the purpose of the amendment is not merely to increase fines but to curb activities that have endangered wildlife for decades. "In the past, fines were so minimal that offenders would simply pay and return to hunting. Now, penalties range from Rs10,000 to Rs1 million, depending on the nature of the offence, whether done on foot or using vehicles," he explained.

He said that all items used in hunting like vehicles, motorcycles, guns, or nets will be confiscated as case property.

The fines are set according to fixed valuations: Rs 500,000 for a vehicle, Rs100,000 for a motorcycle, and Rs25,000 for a bicycle, while separate penalties apply for local and foreign-made firearms.

Bukhari added that wildlife officers now have the same powers as police under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), enabling them to take independent legal action without relying on police support.