Locals said that they had witnessed scores of birds that were returning from Siberia and other parts of Russia within the past week.
Villagers said that thousands of migratory birds were returning because of the large reserves of water in the area after the recent spells of heavy rain in all catchment areas of neighbouring Occupied Jammu and Kashmir eight months ago. “It is a sight to behold. There are flocks of thousands and of different colours and breeds,” said a villager Khawar.
In the past, the birds had diverted their route to India due to water scarcity in the bordering villages along the Sialkot working boundary.
Locals said the birds had returned to the area after several years. “We are delighted to see the flocks return and several tourists have camped out near the fields to take pictures,” said local administrator Karamat Hussain, adding that the scenes of landing and flight of large birds were especially captivating.
“These birds are the ambassadors of love from beyond borders,” said Nadeem Lohar, a birdwatcher and zoo keeper.On the other hand, large groups of bird hunters have also reached the Sialkot district and locals have asked the district administration to outlaw bird hunting in the area.
“Large groups of hunters began arriving over the week. People have begun camping out to shoot game,” said a district administration worker, Chaudhery Anum Bajwa.
Some hunters said that the got a very high price for hunting large colourful birds and poachers said that they sold the birds across the border.
Expressing grave concern over the number of bird hunters in the district, locals have urged the government to take effective measures to stop large scale hunting of the creatures. “There are many rare varieties to be found and hunting them should be banned by the government,” said Lohar.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2010.
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