NAROWAL: The rare breed Indian deer that was caught wounded in a border village of Shakargarh tehsil was set free in the forest after treatment on Wednesday.

The wild deer had crossed into the Pakistani territory and was spotted wounded at Chak Beka village by locals who informed the Rangers and the wildlife authorities about its presence.

On receiving the information, the wildlife officials rushed to the spot and caught the rare breed deer.

District Wildlife Officer Ayaz Ilyas said, “This deer had been treated for a week at the Rangers Headquarters and after it’s complete recovery it was set free in the Sakmal forest.”

“Life, freedom and health is as important for the wild animals as for the human beings,” he added.

Allah Ditta, a resident of Sakmal village, said, “With severity in the cold wave Indian wild animals, including deer, stags, wild boars, leopards and even lions crossover to Pakistan, mostly in search of food.” The wildlife and Rangers officials set the deer free in the presence of locals.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2019