MITHI, Jan 29: Marooara, a network of more than 60 non-governmental organisations, has demanded a complete ban on hunting of near-extinct species of animals and stern action against poachers and hunters.

The chairman of Marooara coordination council Obhayo Junejo, project coordinator of Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (Scope) Bharumal Armani, and programme coordinator of Baanh Beli Sultan said at a press conference at the press club that the Wildlife Department should stop issuing permit for houbara hunting to royal dignitaries in the name of hospitality.

Citing reports that influential hunters recently killed 56 deer and antelope of rare species in Tharparkar and Umerkot districts, they said that the department should ensure that the natural environmental balance and the sanctity of local culture and privacy were conserved.

They said that influential hunters, particularly dignitaries from Middle East and their orderlies, continued unabated hunting down deer, peacock and antelope, which were already on the verge of extinction.

“The Tharparkar district council, taking serious notice of the unjustified hunting and trapping of rare species, has been demanding the Wildlife Department from time to time that it should not issue hunting permits and ban hunting of near extinct species.

But the department has not thus far taken any effective measures to stop the practice,” they complained.

They called upon the government, non-government organisations and well-wishers of environment and wildlife to play their role in saving the environment and rare wildlife.

They emphasised that the locals should take measures through Panchayat system to discourage the practice of chopping down trees and hunting and poaching of wild species, whose number had been depleting at an alarming rate.