QUETTA: Seven poachers, including two Levies officials, were arrested by officials of the forest and wildlife department for their involvement in illegally hunting markhor, an endangered species of wild goats, in the Suleiman mountain range.

According to official sources, a team from the forest and wildlife department, along with members of the community, on Wednesday raided an area where the poachers were present.

Markhor — the national animal of Pakistan — is an endangered animal and the government has imposed a ban on its hunting as it could lead to their extinction.

The wild goats are found in the Takatu mountains and its surrounding areas which have been reserved as the breeding ground for them by the forest and wildlife department.

“We have arrested seven poachers and seized hunted markhor,” said a senior official of the forest department, adding that a case was filed under the wildlife law against the poachers.

According to the official, two Levies officials were also involved in the illegal hunting of the Suleman markhor. They were identified as Abdul Nafay and Rafiullah.

The other five men were identified as Saifur Reh­man, Mohammad Ismail, Riaz Khan, Nimatullah and Mohammad Zahid.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2016