June 23, 2002

RICH in bio-diversity, the province of Sindh caters to a wealthy variety of animal life. But, many of these are on the Sindh Wildlife Department’s endangered list. Still, the department has initiated various programs in an effort to save these animals from extinction.

Top on its list are the green and the olive turtles that inhibit the beaches of Sindh. In order to check their smuggling and trade, a Marine Turtles Protection project has been launched. Hawkes Bay and Sandspit are among the eleven major nesting beaches of the world and female turtles come here to lay their eggs. As part of the project, the department staff, collects the eggs and buries them in manually dug holes. The hatchlings are then shifted to captive breeding place to protect them from predators and to monitor their biological growth and behaviour.

Turtles are often called the living dinosaurs of the world. However, before the project, they had made their way onto the endangered list. Their eggs were stolen and are in great demand by hotel and bakery owners, and hakeems.

Once the turtle is big enough to fend for itself, they are tagged and then released into the wild.

Similar is the agony of the Blind Dolphin, locally known as Bulhan. Found between Sukkur Barage and Guddu Barrage, this mammal is now fighting for its survival due to the shortage of water in the river. It also is under threat from the local fishermen who use its flesh for food and oil for lamps and medicinal purposes. By the way, the Indus Dolphin is blind because through the process of evolution, it has lost its vision due to muddy water of the river.

There are basically three types of protected area in Sindh. Other than the National Khirthar Park there are thirty-three wildlife sanctuaries and thirteen game reserves. Spread over an area of 1192 square miles, Kirthar Park encompasses seven mountain ranges, six seasonal rivers and three lakes. But above all, there are about 450 sorts of flora and fauna in the park. Black bucks, chinkaras, wild sheep, ibex, and hogs are some of the more popular species raised there.

Other than Kirthar Park, artificial ponds have been developed near Haleji Lake for breeding crocodiles. The particular specie found here have no tongue and grinding teeth. Therefore they swallow whole of the prey and digest it with the help of their strong enzymes. The Lake also caters to a growing turtle population. But the eggs that they lay are taken by the lake officials because of danger from the crocodiles.

The beautiful peacock is also found in the lake’s surroundings. However just to put the facts straight, the peacock weeps when it sees its feet, which are ugly, in comparison to its body, which is multicoloured. Human settlements near its habitation has also sent the number of peacocks dwindling as people like to eat its meat and decorate their houses with its feathers.

In order to protect the migratory and other local birds, the wildlife department has established a number of sanctuaries where hunting, netting and poaching is strictly banned. But in spite of these restrictions, violation of the ban continues and the people who manage to trap the birds, earn a handsome amount when they sell it in the market. It has also somehow become fashionable to serve the flesh of protected animals and birds at feasts arranged for VIPs.

Migratory birds, after a long and hectic journey reach the wetlands of Sindh where they find better a environment and feed in abundance. But, due to shortage of irrigation water, lack of rains and Afghan war, the influx of the migratory birds slashed this year. And they have now diverted their route to Australia, Africa and other Asian countries.

The bitter winter season, dearth of food perforce these birds to migrate to those areas where water is abundance, weather is warm and feed is easily available.

A senior official of the Wildlife department Mr Fayaz says that there is a total ban on hunting of the protected species of animals and birds in order to save them from extinction. Still, off-and-on hunting permits are issued for particular area, season and numbers in the non-protected areas. Also possession licence is allowed to those who love these endangered species and are not involved in any trade and smuggling. Due to strict action against offenders, the Government of Sindh has realized an amount of Rs6 million from permits, licenses and fines last year.

For gaining more effective results, the government should provide all required technical support and funds to the department. It should also accelerate efforts for international funds so that research and protection task should continue in the grater interest of the endangered species of the province which are also precious to the whole world because extinction of these species would be an everlasting loss.

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