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PESHAWAR: Wildlife department officials on Tuesday seized nine falcons at Bacha Khan International Airport. The department described the transportation of such costly hunting birds as illegal under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Act, 2015.
According to a statement, the falcons were owned by a Qatari prince who was about to reach Pakistan soon and thus he had dispatched the birds before his arrival for the purpose of hunting.
It was stated that approximate price of the falcons was about Rs20 million.
The falcons were shifted from Qatar to Peshawar through a resident of Kohat, who was arrested. However, the accused was released on payment of Rs300,000 as fine.
Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2018
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Comments (10) Closed
Oct 31, 2018 09:45am
These Qatari princes will deprive the innocent children of pakistan to have a glimpse of what is called wild life...Dont let these princes to play with your ecology and nature....Hope someone is listening!!!
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Oct 31, 2018 09:45am
The entire customs' staff at the Peshawar airport must be suspended forthwith. Don't they know that some people are born above the laws of the country? Or was it a case of not getting the right share for looking the other way?
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Oct 31, 2018 11:36am
They are probably meant for breeding and conservation.The price can reach 275,000 USD per bird. Falconry is highly regulated in the West and the birds are highly protected by the state. Even possessing a feather from them without a permit can result in fines or prison. The most popular here is the Saker used against the Houbara, both are endangered species and migratory visitors to Pakistan.
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Oct 31, 2018 12:56pm
We have already changed rules for Qatari and other Gulf ruler's families for hunting game in Pakistan, on payment of heavy fees. This is a source of earning foreign exchange for which rules have been made accordingly and must be observed, instead of creating hurdles.
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Oct 31, 2018 01:16pm
One must admire the bravery of the people who spend their precious time and money to hunt.
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Oct 31, 2018 01:34pm
The enemies of nature.
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Oct 31, 2018 03:12pm
The Qataris do spend a lot on these birds, it’s strange they wouldn’t know what’s legal and what’s not?
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Oct 31, 2018 08:57pm
@Rafiq They have both - time and money. Stop and save these precious birds for Pakistan and the world.
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Oct 31, 2018 09:20pm
We have sufficient growth in Falcon population in Pakistan. We can promote Falcon poultry farms if needed, Today Falcon is no more a rare specy. Already hunting permits are issued to Arab dignitaries for hunting with help of Falcons. It’s a source of foreign exchange earning , hence more breeds of Falcons, and more permits, no big deal.
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Oct 31, 2018 10:50pm
Respect wild life as decribed in Iqbal's famous poetry.
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