KARACHI, Dec 29: Poaching of endangered species in and around Kirthar National Park as well as other protected areas is on the rise with at least three such incidents having come to light.
It is learnt on good authority that certain influential people were involved in poaching Sindh ibex and deer in violation of the relevant rules and regulations in the areas.
Sources told Dawn Sindh ibex was poached at Kambhu mountain in Kirthar Park by Malik Allauddin, Malik Akber and others who were grilled by the Wildlife staff, deputed in the area, while trying to take away the animal with them. According to the sources, the poachers identified themselves as relatives of Malik Nadir, the honorary Game Warden of Dadu district. They hurled threats on the Wildlife staff and managed to escape any action, the sources added.
The staff, however, registered the first offence report (FOR) under sections 7, 10, 16, 17, 33 (a) of the Sindh Wildlife Protection Act against the poachers and referred the case to a court. The Sindh Wildlife Department’s FOR is equivalent to the police FIR.
In an other incident, the Wildlife staff in the Surjan Game Reserve spotted Momin Shah, Ali Hassan Shah and others, stated to be Customs officials, poached Sindh ibex at Surjan mountain, adjacent to the Kirthar Park. The poachers were asked to surrender the animal but they refused to comply with the orders and fled.
An FOR under sections 7 (i), 10 (ii), 16, 17 (i) (ii) of the Sindh Wildlife Protection Act 1993 has been registered against the accused. If found guilty, sources revealed, the poachers of Sindh ibex and deer could be fined up to Rs100,000 and sentenced to three months imprisonment. They said that poachers used to violate the relevant laws because hardly any poacher had been convicted and handed a full punishment as yet.
Earlier, owing to the increase in the incidents of poaching, Malik Nadir was removed from his post but he somehow managed to get himself reinstated within few days. Though he was also ordered to return the official vehicle, given by the Pak Arab Refinery Company (PARCO) to the Wildlife, he is yet to comply with the order.
Meanwhile, yet another team, led by the Nazim of Badin district, Sardar Kamal Khan Chang, and his friend, Mir Papu Talpur, allegedly poached three deer in the desert region of Tharparkar district.
According to sources, they arrived at the Rangers checkpost at Jatrai, taluka Deplo, in two vehicle, one of them a Suzuki and the other a Pajero jeep. After identifying themselves, the team members entered into the desert region but the Wildlife staff, on hearing gunshots during a routine patrol, followed them and found two male deer having been poached by Kamal Chang and placed in his Pajero. They also found a female deer poached and collected by Mir Papu Talpur which was placed in his Suzuki.
According to the sources, the Wildlife staff tried to confiscate the animals but the poachers, hurling threats, fled from the scene and drove through the Ali embankment towards Badin.
An FOR under sections 7 (i) (ii) (iv), 14, 17-1 (ii) -2, 33 (a) of the SWP Act has been registered against the accused.
