LAHORE: The Punjab Department of Wildlife & Parks has arrested 13 people involved in poaching and trade of birds across the province and recovered 90 live quails, 12 parrots of various species, one crane while recovering 13 netting gears of quail, one gun, cartridges and one knife from their possession.

It also imposed a Rs2,27,000 fine on seven suspects and registered FIRs against six with local police stations.

Under the supervision of Deputy Chief Wildlife Ranger Lahore Region Sakhi Muhammad Joyia, Wildlife Rangers Lahore arrested a man involved in online purchase and sale of wild birds from the Model Town area and recovered one crane from his possession.

A case was registered against him with the local police station.

In another operation, in the area of Lahore Cantt, one suspect was arrested and 12 parrots of various breeds were recovered from his possession.

The wildlife rangers in Sahiwal seized four illegal netting gears of quail and imposed a fine of Rs87,000 on the suspect.

Similarly, the wildlife officials in Khanewal seized two netting gears of quail and initiated legal proceedings against them.

Wildlife rangers in Muzaffargarh arrested two suspects engaged in poaching of falcons, imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on one of them.

The officials in Rajanpur recovered 90 live wild quails from two illegal dealers and released them to the natural environment on the court orders. Seven quail netting gears were seized in Layyah.

Wildlife rangers in Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan arrested two quail netters and fined them Rs90,000.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2026