LAHORE: A 10-foot python was killed at the Bagh-i-Jinnah by its staff early on Saturday.

Officials of the Punjab Wildlife Department claimed the reptile was killed in self-defence.

The department has so far not challaned any of those who killed the reptile despite the fact that it fell in the category of protected animals in the Third Schedule of Punjab Wildlife Act 1974 (amended up to 2007).

Regarding electronic media reports the python entered the garden from the Lahore Zoo’s snake house, Zoo Director Muhammad Shafqat denied the python belonged to the zoo, adding the garden was a huge place with a lot of greenery and the presence of a python there was not surprising.

Wildlife Officer Javed Awan said the python had been handed over to the wildlife department and given to a taxidermist for stuffing.

On being asked why the Punjab Wildlife Department had not challand or fined those who killed the python as it was a protected species, Awan said the department would initiate an inquiry into the matter and reasons would be determined as to whether it was killed in self-defence or deliberately.

Punjab Wildlife Department Director General Khalid Ayaz was asked why no case was registered against the killing of a protected snake. He said snakes were terrifying reptiles and the python could have been killed out of fear, adding the department was looking into the matter and steps would be taken according to the findings.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2015

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