MANSEHRA: The local wildlife department on Wednesday seized preserved markhor and ibex at a Naran hotel here and fined Rs400,000 owner of the hotel. The hunting of the two animals is banned for being endangered species.

Sub-divisional officer of the wildlife department Khursheed Abbasi told reporters on Wednesday that the two preserved animals were smuggled from Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan to Naran valley via Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road.

He said the seized animals seized under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife and Biodiversity Act 2015 had a huge price both in local and international markets.

He said the law banned hunting, killing and reservations of exotic animal species in the province.

“We have taken strict measures to check hunting of endangered species, including national animal markhor. The seizure is a great accomplishment,” he said.

Abbasi also said a two-month-old leopard cub was seized during a raid on a Gidarpur house.

He said the house owner was held, while the cub was shifted to Dodial peasantry.

“The arrested man claims he caught the animal when it came to his village from the nearby forest. We’ve begun legal proceedings against him,” he said.

The wildlife official said only the inquiry would show if leopard cub was caught in the village or in the forest.

RAINFALL: Rains lashed upper parts of Hazara division on Wednesday lowering soaring temperatures.

The rainfall began in Mansehra, Batagram, Kohistan and Torghar at around 4pm simultaneously and lasted many hours. Local residents stepped out to enjoy rainy weather after being restricted to indoors for many doors during the daytime.

In some areas, puddles of rainwater inconvenienced road users.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2015

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