LAKKI MARWAT: Over a hundred precious birds seized by the officials of political administration in Frontier Region, Lakki, were freed in a breeding enclosure near Wanda Cheekari and in natural habitat near Dallokhel and Kalan here on Tuesday.

The birds, including partridges, were seized by a team of khasadar and levy personnel from a man at Adezai checkpost. The birds were concealed in goods and being smuggled to Punjab via Lakki Marwat.

The hilly tribal belt of the Frontier Region Lakki provides a fine natural habitat to wildlife species especially birds like grey, black, red-legged and see-see partridges. Poachers visit the tribal area frequently to catch these birds with the help of nets and then smuggle them to other parts of the country.

A grey partridge is sold for Rs600 to Rs1,000 while the price of black and red-legged partridge runs into thousands of rupees.

On Tuesday, a poacher who was transporting the birds illegally was arrested at Adezai checkpost and a case was registered against him under the relevant section of FCR.

The brown partridges though not threatened are declining in number in Lakki district and adjacent tribal region owing to unchecked hunting with the help of nets.

An official said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wildlife department had also set up a bird enclosure near Wanda Cheekari to breed partridges and other birds and then release them in the natural habitat.