NAROWAL: Special squad of the wildlife department has nabbed three poachers allegedly involved in illegal snaring of Siberian falcons near Head Marala, Sialkot, recovering five precious birds from them that were later released.

On the instruction of wildlife and parks director general, Assistant Director Asim Kamran, leading the Special Squad, Punjab, launched a crackdown on poachers in Sialkot district.

During the crackdown, Mr Kamran said, the squad arrested three poachers catching migratory birds near Head Marala on the banks of the river Chenab.

He said the arrested poachers -- Anwar Haq, Farid Ahmed and Ishaq, belonged to Khushab district, adding that five Siberian falcons had also been recovered from them.

The assistant director said that poachers had been slapped with Rs50,000 fine for snaring the prohibited birds, while their equipment was also confiscated.

Wildlife Inspector Mohammad Naveed Butt says the poachers were using nets to snare the Siberian falcon, a migratory bird worth million of rupees, that visits the region to avoid harsh winters in its habitat.

He says the Pakistan government has banned snaring of migratory birds. Later, Mr Kamran released the five falcons recovered from the poachers near Head Marala Rangers Post.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2022