LAHORE: Like previous years, an uncountable number of quails will be killed or netted in the coming hunting season (August-September) in the plains of Punjab.

Although officials of the Punjab Wildlife Department claim to have taken measures to stop illegal hunting of quails, it is practically difficult to curb the activity.

Last year, hunters caught between 300 and 400 quails every night during the season in southern Punjab, an area considered hub of quail hunting.

Major population of quail originates from Russia, Siberia and other Central Asian states and moves towards the warmer regions of the world, including Pakistan. The migrant bird is not a “protected” one but massive hunting over the years has drawn ire of wildlife lovers and bird experts and there are growing concerns about its population.

Quails are usually hunted with the help of big nets and recording of their own voice. There was a time when people would keep quails as pets and breed them round the year and then hang them in their cages at specific places where migratory birds could come.

Now hunters don’t take pain of breeding quails the whole year through. Cassettes having quail voice recording are available in the market and they buy those and play their recording in the hunting area to lure the migratory bird. The wildlife department has banned hunting quails through a mechanical device such as cassettes.

Keeping in view the economic condition of the country, this business has become quite beneficial for hunters. In certain areas of Punjab, quails are being used for fights involving vicious gambling.

Earlier, the fee for hunting licence was Rs10,000 but the matter went into litigation. The new fee would be announced by the department in a week or so, said a Punjab Wildlife Department official. Sources said it was expected that the new fee bar for quail hunting licence would be low compared to the pervious one.

The common quail is a small bird in the pheasant family -- Phasianidae. Often the only indication of its presence is the distinctive “wet-my-lips” repetitive song of the male. The call is uttered mostly in the mornings, evenings and sometimes at night.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2014