Punjab Wildlife Rangers recover three black bears in one week

Punjab Wildlife Rangers have successfully recovered three black bears in the past week as part of an ongoing crackdown against the illegal possession of protected wildlife, officials said. Several individuals have also been booked in connection with these cases.

In one of the recent operations, the Wildlife Rangers of the Dera Ghazi Khan region, in coordination with Muzaffargarh Police, specifically the Jatoi Police Station, recovered a black bear. One suspect was arrested at the scene, while FIRs were filed against three other individuals involved. The recovered bear has been transferred to the Dera Ghazi Khan Zoo for proper care.

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Additional Chief Wildlife Ranger Punjab, Syed Kamran Bukhari, stated that this specific operation was prompted after a video showing a bear fighting with a dog went viral on social media. Immediate action was taken following the incident.

Over the past week, two black bears were recovered from Lodhran district, while one was rescued from Dera Ghazi Khan. With these recent recoveries, the total number of black bears retrieved across Punjab has reached 25.

The ongoing operations underscore the provincial government’s commitment to protecting endangered and vulnerable wildlife, ensuring that illegal activities involving such animals are met with strict legal action.