MUZAFFARGARH: Wildlife officials and conservationists rescued rare species of turtles from poachers at the Head Taunsa Barrage in Kotaddu on Saturday. Five poachers were arrested and later handed over to the local magistrate.

According to sources, the poachers had been hunting fresh water turtles illegally and selling them to dealers, who would then smuggle them abroad. The turtles are highly sought after for their shells, which are used to make soup.

The operation was led by Wildlife Inspector Mushtaq Ahmed, with the assistance of the Wildlife Conservation Organisation, Sindhu Bachao Tarla, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Khadim Hussain Khar, Javed Iqbal Sheikh, and Manwar Iqbal Chaudhry, WWF in-charge at Taunsa Barrage, were also present during the operation.

The Indus River is home to eight species of turtles, four soft-shelled and four hard-shelled, which face numerous threats, including poaching and habitat destruction. Soft-shelled turtles are particularly vulnerable, as their shells are in high demand for use in soup. The Indus dolphins also face similar threats, highlighting the need for continued conservation efforts in the region.

Sources said irrigation officials are involved in illegal fishing activities during the breeding season (June to August) and this must be addressed.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2024