BAHAWALPUR: The population of blackbucks, chinkara gazelles and houbara bustards had greatly depleted due to ruthless hunting during the last few decades; however, is reportedly increasing due to public and private conservation efforts, especially in the Lal Sohanra National Park, according to official claims.

One such organisation is the International Houbara Foundation, led by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, which is running a facility for conservation of wildlife, particularly blackbucks, chinkaras, houbara bustards and peacocks in the park. Since its establishment in 2015, the Shaikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al-Nahayen Conservation and Breeding Centre in the heart of the park has been working over 147 sq km. The area earmarked for the open habitat is fenced and protected with the facilities of 23 ponds to provide drinking water for the wildlife. The protected area has security cover along with 191 field employees on 24 watch-towers and security men with motorcycles to patrol the jungle to ensure the protection of birds and animals in their natural habitat.

During a visit to the conservation and breeding Centre, project director retired Maj M Tahir told Dawn the centre was Pakistan’s maiden facility for breeding and promotion of wildlife and it was presently being jointly run by the Houbara Foundation and the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department.

According to Tahir, the centre was an intriguing habitat for several wildlife species. However, he added, some bird species like houbara bustard and antelopes like blackbuck, chinkara and nilgai were endangered for few decades due to massive poaching and habitat loss. But, since the establishment of the centre, round-the-clock patrolling was done, which not only stopped illegal hunting but helped the wildlife breed more.

Facility run by UAE president increasing number of blackbucks, chinkara and houbara bustard

Mr Tahir said the population of blackbucks at the centre had increased to 118, chinkara 244 with 12 fawns and neegai to 24, which was a great success of the houbara foundation. He claimed that there would be an increase of another 200 blackbucks at the centre. He hoped that the wildlife would continue increasing in the coming years, raising the significance of this Sheikh Zayed centre as well as the national park.

It is worth-mentioning that the Dutch children for the first time had donated funds for the launch of restoration and preservation of blackbucks that had vanished decades ago due to ruthless killing by hunters belonging to the elite class. The Dutch children’s valuable contribution had helped the then Pakistan government in the 1960 to build iron-fenced enclosures for breeding of blackbucks imported from Holland with the help of World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The project director also showed the other facilities at the centre, including a research centre with a laboratory having the latest research equipment and material worth millions for rupee for scholars and university students, an animal treatment room with an incubator, a modern rest house for the guests, staff accommodation for 191 employees and a 210kV solar station for uninterrupted electricity supply.

The PD offered scholars and students to get involved in the research on wildlife at the research centre, regretting that that even the students of the Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB) were reluctant to do research work at the centre although houbara foundation was ready to bear all their expenses of research, including their free boarding and lodging.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2024