LAYYAH, Feb 18: Hundreds of hunters are camping at various spots near the river Indus to catch the turtles to mint money by selling them in the local and international market.

According to a survey conducted by Dawn, five hunting teams each of which comprises 30 to 50 members from Sindh, the NWFP and Punjab have set up camps at various spots of the riverine union councils, including Samitia, Warah Sehran, Basera, Sahuwala, Shahpur, Kotla Haji Shah, Lohaunch Nashaib, Jhakhar, Jaman Shah, Kot Sultan and Bait Wasawa Shumali.

These teams have devised special mechanism for catching a turtle species (Cinosternum pennsylvancium). They have prepared fodder which they leave in water as bait.

Hunters turn the turtle upside down with bamboo stick and capture it by pricking lance-like weapon into its lower belly. They collect the daily catch at a makeshift collection centre from where buyers from Lahore purchase the turtles and transport these to Lahore.

According to the locals, each team manages to catch around 500 turtles daily. These teams have hired local guides against daily wages. Hunters Amanullah and Muneer Khan, who had come from Dera Ismail Khan for the purpose, said they got Rs200 to Rs300 according to the size of a turtle from a Lahore-based buyer who had links with international buyers in China, Japan and Korea.

Mr Taqi Shah, an ecologist, expressed concern over the large-scale stalking of this “unique marine species”. He said it might face extinction if the practice was not stopped. When contacted, District Wildlife Officer Khuda Bakhsh said the department had moved a summary to amend the act that prohibited the turtle hunting. He said strict measures would be taken against the hunters to protect the endangered species.