KASUR:Lack of proper fence, cemented lining of the canal that runs through the forest, unchecked deforestation and illegal hunting [of animals] are taking its toll on the wildlife in Changa Manga forest.

Spotted deer and neel cow have become extinct from the man-made forest while the hog deer are at risk.

Locals say the government should take steps to protect the forest and declare the jungle a Safari Park that will not only generate revenue but also promote tourism.

Wildlife marred by improper fence, faulty canal lining and illegal hunting

The Changa Manga Forest Protection Committee says the [alleged] corrupt practices of the wildlife department and its negligence has ruined the wildlife.

According to a Kasur wildlife official, the irrigation department paved the banks, base and sides of the canal to stop seepage of water. He says while drinking water animals slip over on the cemented bank and drown in the canal as they fail to come out of water. Every month, two or three hog deer, the only specie in the forest, drown in the canal. He says the wildlife department has off and on written to the irrigation department that some portions of the canal inside the forest should either be unpaved or roughened to save the animals but no step was taken.

Locals including Muhammad Siddique, Ali Muhammad, Nasir Ali and Shabir say deforestation of the Changa Manga Forest during the last one decade or so had destroyed the natural habitat for animals. Consequently, they say only hog deer is found in the forest while blue bull, spotted deer and peacocks have [almost] vanished. The price of one hog deer in the open market hovers around Rs100,000.

They say trees are cut illegally and later that portion of the forest is set ablaze for removing reeds, resulting in elimination of small animals and eggs of birds. They say [the criminal] silence of the forest and wildlife departments and local administration is beyond comprehension.

Kasur Wildlife District Officer Muhammad Usman Shah says owing to improper fence around the forest [that is 45 km in length], animals go out of the forest in nearby fields and are trapped. He says when the canal is closed in December and January, animals are forced to leave the forest and go to nearby fields to drink water as ponds have not been made to accumulate water for animals.

He also urged the respective authorities to erect specific tracks for visitors so that they could not disturb the wildlife.

Changa Manga Forest Protection Committee office-bearers, including Waqas Ahmed, Saleem Farzand, Agha Hussain, Sarfraz Ahmed Zaki, Ijaz Ahmed and Ramzan Gill have alleged that the wildlife department has failed to protect the animals.

They say the department could not even protect the animals like monkeys, neel cow, peacocks and sparrows that were brought to the Changa Manga Zoo. These animals died [in large number] due to malnutrition as they were not given the sanctioned food.

They allege that some wildlife officials use to sell animals illegally. They claim that deforestation is not a problem [now] as new plants have been sown in 8,000 acre area. They say the issue is of conservation that is the sole responsibility of the wildlife department and it has [allegedly] failed to do so.

Wildlife DO Usman Shah has rejected the allegations of corruption, saying the department is short of funds and manpower.

He says animals like neel cow and spotted deer can be reintroduced and population of animals can be increased by establishing their natural habitat, [proper] fencing the forest, and stopping illegal hunting.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2018