BAHAWALNAGAR: Rescue 1122 on Sunday accused the Wildlife Department of refusing to take an Indian monkey which was caught by Rescue 1122 near the Lorry Adda area after hours-long efforts.

District Officer (emergency) Rao Sharafat told Dawn that, on the basis of information of the presence of the wild monkey in the city, rescue teams captured the primate from the 200 feet-high cellular tower.

When the Rescue Department asked the Wildlife Department to take the animal, the department showed zero interest. Later, rescuers handed over the monkey to a person.

District Wildlife Officer Munawar Hassain Najmi told Dawn that the department had neither enough space nor staff at the Bahawalnagar Zoo to take care of additional animals.

He said that the majority of the animals that crossed India into Pakistan, especially langurs and monkeys, die from injuries, while the Bahawalnagar Wildlife Department did not even have a single vet to treat them.

He said an injured Indian Langur died at Shershah Check post because of the unavailability of the doctor.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2023