A hunting team allegedly comprising royals from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) shot dead a bluebuck in the Cheh Bet Ramsar area near Nagarparkar on Thursday.

Eyewitnesses and district administration officials who spoke to Dawn on condition of anonymity said that hunters from the UAE drove a vehicle chasing the animal and shot it dead, then took the carcass of the animal with them.

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, the animal is the largest Asian antelope and is also known as Nilgai.

Hunting of rare animals including antelope, Houbara Bustard and other species, by Middle Eastern royals has sparked anger in the area.

The hunters, under the leadership of Sheikh Muhammad Khalifa bin Maktoum, allegedly arrived in Thar a few days ago.

District and sessions judge Thar Jamshed Awan on the complaint of a villager sought a detailed report from Wildlife Department officials in the area regarding the encampment of the royal guests. The officials have, however, failed to submit a report, preventing action from being taken against the hunters.

When contacted, the local Wildlife Department officials claimed that a team has been sent to the remote site to ascertain the facts pertaining to the incident.

The district game officer, when contacted, told Dawn that he had been directed by top officials not to share details with the media over the recent hunting expedition in the desert region.