Gilgit Baltistan

A safer habitat: Baby ibex released into the wild in Gilgit-Baltistan

DFO says kid was reluctant to go when set free

Shabbir Mir September 13, 2015

An official from the wildlife department looks after the baby ibex. PHOTO: SHABBIR MIR/EXPRESS

GILGIT: The ibex kid surrendered by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lawmaker Mir Ghazanfar after 10 days of illegal captivity has been released into the wild in Gilgit–Baltistan.

Speaking to The Express Tribune on Saturday, Divisional Forest Officer Yaqub Ali, who transported the ibex from Gilgit to Khunjerab National Park (KNP) said the kid was reluctant to go when set free.

“After having spent over a week in captivity, the baby ibex had become far more domesticated and had lost its instinct of surviving in the wild,” Yaqub said. “However, I wouldn’t attribute its unwillingness to any particular illness. The kid had not contracted any disease during its captivity. He was properly examined by experts before we decided to release him into the wild.”

In the past

Ghazanfar illegally captured the kid from Gojal Valley in the last week of August. Over the last few days, authorities held negotiations to secure the kid’s release. However, the lawmaker simply refused as he was determined to gift the animal to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is scheduled to visit the valley.

However, Ghazanfar decided to surrender the kid earlier this week after G-B Chief Minister Hafeezur Rahman took notice of the matter and ordered the relevant authorities to ensure the release as per wildlife laws.

Under the Wildlife Act 1973, poaching is illegal and those who are involved in such activities are liable to imprisonment of up to two years in addition to a fine equivalent to the trophy hunting fee of the animal. The trophy hunting fee for an ibex is $3,200 for the hunting season 2014-2015. However, Ghazanfar has not been charged or fined.

Sanctuary

KNP is Pakistan’s third largest national park, adjacent to Taxkorgan Natural Reserve in China. Located 4,000 metres above sea level, KNP was established to protect endangered wildlife species like Marco Polo sheep, snow leopards, the Himalayan ibex and the brown bear.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2015.