Officials in firing line over illegal foreigners' hunts

LAHORE:

Two wildlife officials have been suspended over allegations of facilitating illegal hunting by foreign nationals at the Changa Manga Reserve, while a three-member inquiry committee has been constituted.

According to a notification, Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Osama Yousaf posted in Kasur district and Nadeem Zafar in Changa Manga have been suspended with immediate effect over alleged negligence, misconduct and facilitation of illegal hunting.

The inquiry committee will be headed by Sargodha Deputy Chief Wildlife Ranger Naeem Tahir with Jhan Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Muhammad Saleem Sargana and Muhammad Waseem as members.

The committee has been directed to examine all aspects of the alleged illegal hunting by foreign nationals at the Changa Manga Wildlife Reserve and submit a fact-finding report to the central zone additional chief wildlife ranger within three days.

Meanwhile, a portable radiology facility has been launched at the Wildlife Hospital in Lahore Safari Zoo.

The equipment was recently used to examine a deer and a python at Lahore Zoo.

Lahore Zoo Director Dr Ghulam Rasool said that in the past, animals had to be sedated and transported to a veterinary hospitals for X-ray.