MITHI: Activists working on various issues of Thar have demanded of the Sindh government to ensure implementation of laws, which completely disallow any kind of poaching and netting of rare species of animals in various areas of Thar desert.

Expressing his deep concerns and exasperation over increasing illegal hunting of deer, antelopes, wild rabbits and migratory birds in the areas of over 100 salt mines and natural lakes of Tharpar­kar district, poet and environmentalist Khalil Kum­bhar observed that it was the need of the hour that pressure should be exerted on the department concerned to help stop the ongoing illegal hunting even in the Ramsar sites of Nagarparkar and Islamkot areas.

He alleged that some local influential people, including elected members from Thar and other parts, were either directly or indirectly involved in the illegal hunting of such species.

He said it was due to the unchecked ‘genocide’ of animals and birds that the very existence of the endangered species like blue bulls (a kind of antelope), chinkara deer and houbara bustard had been put at the brink of extinction.

He urged that all mining companies engaged in the Thar coal area be strictly directed not to disturb the natural habitats of the animals and birds as per the laws and the agreements they had signed with the government.

Advocate Veerji Kolhi, who is also PPP’s chairman of the union council Berano of Nagarparkar taluka, told Dawn that despite repeated protests by the local community, hunting excursions in the remote area of Nagarparkar taluka were going on unabated even in the Ramsar sites.

He said he had himself informed the top leadership of his party about the unchecked hunting and for necessary steps to curb the menace. He warned to launch a peaceful protest movement against the illegal exercise with the help of local people who, according to him, worship some of the species.

Mr Kolhi said he had heard complaints from the local people about hunting of such animals by “royal hunters” from Gulf countries. He admitted that some of the “royal hunters” had set up their camps in various areas of Thar for poaching the endangered species.

He said officials of the wildlife department miserably failed to trace the hunters, who had reportedly killed six deer and three antelopes in different areas of Nagarparkar during their hunting excursion two weeks ago.

Villagers complained that some influential sardars during their stay had killed the animals and took them away with the connivance of the officials of the department concerned.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2017