Wildlife wisdom
According to a report from Quetta, the footprints of two leopards were recently spotted by local villagers in the Takato range towards the north of Quetta during the recent snowfall in the area. The leopards are believed to have migrated from the border of Afghanistan and local people say that they also attacked a goat in a village. A few years ago, a black leopard was reportedly spotted in the Chilton range. Wildlife experts working in the area for the conservation of the animals fear that the leopard may be hunted down and killed. They point out that poaching and hunting — sometimes abetted by the local Wildlife Department officials — is common. Many kinds of animals have suffered as a result. In 2000, only eight to 10 markhors remained in the region. By 2012 their number had risen to 300 thanks to efforts by NGOs.
But the risk to animals of all kinds still remains. It is reported that influential persons are allowed to hunt endangered species in return no doubt for money, and at times certificates are issued to them stating that the markhor they killed had been found dead in the mountains. Leopards would of course be a ‘valued’ trophy for some. There is, therefore, a need to ensure that that those who have ventured into the Takato range, presumably in search of food, are protected. Similar problems of course exist across the country. The press recently reported the killings of Himalayan Black Bears by army helicopters firing on them presumably for ‘fun’. The notion that the hunting of endangered species is acceptable must be eradicated. Unless this happens the threat to animal life everywhere in the country will continue to grow. We have already lost too many species with numbers falling rapidly. We must do more to save those that still remain.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2012.
COMMENTS (3)
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I know it is presumptuous of foreigners to criticise the behaviour of other nationals, but governments need to set the agenda and make the hunting of endangered wildlife an anti-social act and to enforce international law. I know that even in the UK there are cases where birds of prey are destroyed supposedly to protect the interests of hunters, but this does not excuse this behaviour. We are trying to get the law in the UK changed so that the land owners are made responsible for the actions of those which they employ unless it can be proved that they act without thioer knowledge and consent. We must turn the world into a national of animal lovers.
Killing animals for fun is really pathetic...v shud conserve them as already their population has dwindled..Wildlife conservation programmes shud be encouraged in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other such countries....I wud like to appeal to influential people to contribuite to the cause of protection of these magnificent animals not to destruction of these leftover animals...and those coward army officers involved in firing at innocent animals from air should be hanged to death...hw can one be so cruel..poor animals may not even understand wat wrong dey have committed and from where and why bullets are being fired at them..they are not able to protect themselves....this is really really disgusting...
This is really pathetic...killing animals for fun depicts the sick nature of humans...animal conservation programmes in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries should be encouraged..I appeal to all influential people not to indulge in hunting and LIVE AND LET LIVE..