LAKKI MARWAT: The wildlife department on Saturday claimed to have foiled a bid to smuggle water birds to Punjab province and seized Siberian cranes from a bird smuggler on Lakki-Mianwali Road.

Rehmatullah Khan, the divisional forest officer, told local journalists that the department had established a temporary checkpoint in the area and deployed wildlife watchers there to check the suspected vehicles.

“The officials stopped a passenger coach near Darra Tang bridge and during search seized 36 Siberian cranes from the vehicle,” he claimed.

He added that besides registering a case against the bird smuggler the department also imposed heavy fine on him.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2018