Of a feather: Wildlife dept cracks down against illegal sale of birds

Bacha Khan Chowk, Board Bazaar, Karkhano Market, Kohati raided.

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Wildlife department carried out an operation against the illegal sale of birds on Sunday.

The department stated birds cannot be captured and sold in the markets unless the shops are licenced by the authorities.

Sub-divisional Forest Officer Sardar Ali said the operation was conducted at Bacha Khan Chowk, Board Bazar, Karkhano Market and Kohati Bazaar. These, he said, are the main centres of the illegal sale and purchase of birds. “We will register cases against the culprits to prevent them from capturing these animals in the first place,” said Ali.

Such shops are not new and have been operating without licences for decades, while authorities have been mostly ineffective in stopping the trade despite tall claims and regular raids. Vendors regularly buy myna birds to sell in small cages on the streets.

Although there is an official ban, different types of birds are available for sale due to which a number of them are becoming endangered. Under the law, only people with licences from the department can adopt this trade.

Under the newly-constructed flyover in Gulbahar, a new centre has opened where birds have been caged and are available for sale. “We will conduct raids in every part of the province,” claimed the officer.

Ali added steps have been taken to stop this trade for the sake of the environment.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2rd, 2015.