SARGODH: Illegal hunting, poaching and smuggling of rare migratory and local birds are on the rise in Sargodha, Sahiwal, Bhera, Khushab, Mianwali and Thal areas with alleged connivance of wildlife department officials.

Sources say that some wildlife department officers are patronising poachers and illegal hunters of falcons, particularly those of rare species.

They say these birds are illegally caught in the Sargodha region and being sold at high prices locally, between one million to ten million rupees.

The buyers smuggle these precious birds to the Gulf and European countries where they are sold up to three hundred million of rupees, the sources say.

They say that many officials and officers of the wildlife department are also involved in catching precious birds, along with poachers.

The sources say illegal hunters and poachers from KP, Balochistan, Bahawalpur, Multan, Muzaffargarh and other districts come to Sargodha region and freely hunt and catch birds in riverine area. These illegally caught and hunted local as well as migratory birds are also gifted to influential figures, who in return patronise these poachers and officials.

Wildlife Department Sargodha Region Director Urooj Zaheer rejected the allegations, claiming the department is working diligently against poachers.

She said that so far the department officials have issued 227 challans and collected Rs3.4m as fine from quail and falcon poachers in the region.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2024