Four arrested as wildlife operations intensify across Punjab

Punjab’s ongoing wildlife protection campaign has led to multiple successful operations across the province, resulting in the rescue of several endangered animals and the recovery of illegally held wildlife. Teams of the Wildlife Department, operating under the instructions of Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and the Secretary of Forests, carried out coordinated actions in Kasur, Okara, Multan, and Lodhran. The operations were supervised by Chief Wildlife Ranger Mubeen Elahi, who is overseeing the province-wide crackdown on illegal hunting and wildlife possession.

Another major operation was carried out in the Dipalpur border belt area, where Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Okara, Muhammad Sarfaraz, in collaboration with Pakistan Rangers, captured a female nilgai that had wandered away from its natural habitat. The animal was secured without incident and shifted to the Sulemanki Wildlife Park. According to officials, such incidents highlight the increasing pressure on wildlife habitats, prompting stepped-up monitoring along border regions.

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In a related operation in Multan, authorities seized two quail netting gears used for the illegal trapping of birds. These confiscations form part of the department’s broader strategy to curb unlawful hunting practices across Punjab.

According to the Wildlife Department, the crackdown on illegal hunting, wildlife trafficking, and unauthorised possession of animals will continue without interruption. Officials reaffirmed that sustained enforcement is essential to protecting endangered species and ensuring long-term ecological stability across the province.