KARACHI: As one of the five falcons that were rescued on Thursday died the next day, the Sindh Wildlife Department seemed to be in a rush to release the other four on Sunday.
Wildlife officials say that the bird died of translocation shock and that its body has been preserved. However, sources requesting anonymity said that the department does not have a proper rehabilitation facility to keep animals and birds.
The four birds were released into the premises of the National Park near Karachi on Sunday. All five birds were retrieved by the Customs officials when a man from Quetta, Shaukat Ali, was taking the rare birds to Dubai as part of his luggage. Customs officials handed over the falcons to the Sindh Wildlife Department.
The Express Tribune has learnt that one of the four birds that have been released was also sick. The department rushed into releasing the birds so that chances of more deaths could be avoided.
"All birds were in good health when released," said the game inspector, Mukhtiar Soomro. The area where the birds have been released is considered as the most protected zone for birds and animals in Sindh.
Earlier, the wildlife department imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on the alleged smuggler and released him. Ali had been attempting to smuggle the birds to Dubai as he had been asked to give them as a gift to an Arab.
"He was not completely aware that he was carrying protected birds," said an official seeking anonymity. "How one could carry such threatened birds so carelessly?" the official justified. "I don't think he was a habitual smuggler."
The official said that innocent people like Ali are being used for such transportation. He added that these attempts make lives miserable for people like Ali. "One should never carry birds and animals without permission from Pakistan to another country," he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2014.
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