THATTA, Oct 26: An increasing numbers of hunters are seeking licences as migratory birds have arrived in Thatta and Badin from Siberia and Central Asia. Though it is another matter altogether that due to hunting, both legal and illegal, and poaching many of the species are being wiped out. Some are already on the endangered list.

Hunting licences will start being handed out to those who have applied for them from the 3rd of November by the wildlife conservation office, this correspondent learnt through reliable official sources on Friday.

The issuance of a routine notification by the Sindh Government is, however, still awaited, the sources disclosed.

Every winter between 700,000 and 1,200,000 birds including blue birds, ducks, and coots arrive to breed and lay legs. Though by the time they leave, their numbers are a lot less due to hunting and poaching.

Not only do these species are shot and killed by the hunters, both with and without licenses, but are also caught alive in large numbers by local bird catchers and either presented to influential people as gifts or sold in the markets and hotels of big cities.

The migratory birds arrive at Keenjhar Lake, Haleji Lake, and Manchhar Lake. Some arrive at coastal creeks. The remaining go to Bothiro, Kapoor, Chhari, and Lakyari lakes which are maintained privately by some landlords. These landlords invite their friends as guests from the cities for shooting these beautiful creatures for pleasure during their holiday trips.

Recently, Iqbal Hussain Khan and Ghulam Qadir Samdani of Sujawal got two Neeragi (local name) ducks from Deh Chehto and Laadion respectively. They found metallic rings around their feet.

A well-known landlord and a keen bird hunter of Sujawal, the late Syed Mehar Ali Shah had also found such rings on several birds. He had sent the rings to certain foreign embassies.

He said that the purpose of the rings was to research the route, speed, and timings of these birds from the place of their origin till they were caught in this part of Asia.

It was meant to keep tally of the numbers in a certain species. The language on the newly-found rings seems to be Russian.

Instead of the number of applications being reduced due to the increase in the hunting fees from Rs1,000 to Rs6,000 per season, the department concerned has received at least ten per cent more applications for awarding hunting licences this season.

The fees had been enhanced when Moinuddin Hyder was the Sindh governor.

Many sheikhs are easily given hunting licences, which are awarded through the federal government.

These Arabs from the Gulf states catch birds with the help of falcons and often set up their camps in the hilly terrain of Kohistan.

Sources said that the Arabs also set up camps along the 900-km coastal belt, which stretches all the way from Karachi to the Rann of Kachh covering Karo Goongro, Ahmed Raju, Ali Bunder, Kalkachani, Jirsid Creek, Sham Bunder, and Jati.

When this correspondent contacted the district game warden, Thatta, Riaz Ahmed Wagan, and the district officer games, Thatta, Pir Muhammad, they said that the raise in hunting licence fee had increased the revenue, and added that the revenues would further increase with poachers being arrested and penalized.