LAHORE, Jan 13: Mobile teams of the Punjab Wildlife Department arrested 35 poachers in different prohibited areas across the province during the Eid days. Punjab Wildlife and Parks Director Abdul Qadeer Mehal told this agency here on Friday that mobile teams on the special directive of DG Rao Iftikhar Ahmad were constituted to launch a vigorous campaign against poachers in order to preserve the national wildlife throughout the province especially during Eid holidays.

He said heavy penalty was imposed on poachers, besides registration of criminal cases against them irrespective of their political or social status.

He said all the deputy and assistant directors and other wildlife staff were directed to take to task all the poachers. He said more than 40 check posts manned with necessary staff were set up in various parts of the province to check the movements of the suspects.

Mehal said only limited hunting was allowed under special permits during the hunting season to save the eco-balance. He said night hunting and netting of all animals and birds had already been banned in the entire province. He said guns, ammunition, vehicles and other paraphernalia from the poachers would be seized, besides imposing heavy fine. —APP