AS Pakistan fences its borders to tighten its security and monitor the illicit movement from across the border, it needs to give a little more attention to fence its wild preserves, Takatu and Maslikh, located around Quetta city, to save the last herds of endangered species from hunters and poachers.

Efforts should be made to protect the Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park through boundary fencing as it is home to markhors and the rare Persian leopards that have been spotted for the first time recently.

Pakistan is lucky to have many beautiful wild animals, such as markhor, ibex and snow leopards, and can earn huge revenues through wildlife sightings and safaris. But instead of protecting these animals and attracting tourists to see wildlife, it issues permits for trophy-hunting. The government must realise that it needs to work harder to save these endangered animals from extinction.

Aleem Shah
Quetta

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2021