LAHORE, Jan 10: The Punjab Wildlife Department has constituted mobile teams to launch a vigorous campaign against poachers to preserve national wildlife throughout the province, especially during Eidul Azha holidays. Punjab Wildlife and Parks Director-General Rao Iftikhar Ahmad told APP here on Tuesday that heavy penalty would be imposed on poachers besides registration of criminal cases against them irrespective of their political or social status.

He said that all the deputy and assistant directors and other wildlife staff had been directed to take to task all the poachers.

He said that more than 80 check posts had been set up in various parts of the province. Necessary staff has also been deployed at these posts to check the movements of the suspects.

Rao said that only limited hunting was allowed under special permits during the hunting season to save the eco-balance.

He said that night hunting and netting of all animals and birds had already been banned in the entire province. He said that guns, ammunition, vehicles and other paraphernalia from the poachers would be seized besides imposing heavy fine on them.—APP