KARACHI, July 9: The Sindh government on Monday notified Sindh ibex as provincial mammal and black partridge as provincial bird.

The notification was issued by the chief minister.

Hailing the government decision, conservationists said that it would help protect the endangered wildlife of the province.

“I think it’s the first time that a province has declared a provincial mammal and a provincial bird. The decision shows government commitment towards wildlife and we hope that it will also approve the draft of new rules and regulations recommended to replace the outdated Sindh wildlife rules of 1974,” said Rab Nawaz, head of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature-Karachi office.

Sindh ibex enjoyed protected status in the province, but hunting of black partridge was allowed under the Sindh wildlife rules, he added.