Into the wild: Three bears recovered near Daharki

The wildlife dept and police raided Pir Noor Shah’s shrine on a tipoff about bear and dog fights.

SUKKUR: On the eve of the annual urs at the dargah of Pir Noor Shah, the wildlife department recovered three bears used in fights with dogs. Two men were also arrested while their accomplices managed to escape with the other animals.

On Monday a team from Sukkur’s wildlife department and Ghotki police raided the shrine which is located in the desert - nearly 40 kilometres away from Daharki.

According to sources, they had received information about a group of people organising bear and dog fights at the shrine on the eve of the annual urs. The deputy conservator of Sukkur’s wildlife department, Taj Muhammad Shaikh, and his team conducted a raid at the shrine with help from the police.

Sources claim that when the police reached the shrine, many men who had brought in animals for fights fled.

The police managed, however, to arrest two men who were trying to escape with three bears.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Shaikh said that making a dog and bear fight for sport or money was illegal. He added that it was also against animal rights.

The two men arrested were identified as Rab Nawaz and Ghulam Rasool. An FIR was lodged against them.

Shaikh claimed that an inquiry is being held to find out the name and identity of the man who organises these fights.

He added that the bears will be sent to Islamabad and released into a sanctuary.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2014.