Action against illegal hunters of pheasant and pheasant in Punjab

Karachi: To prevent illegal pheasant hunting in Punjab, Secretary Forests and Wildlife Punjab has issued instructions to all district wildlife officers to take indiscriminate action against illegal hunters. Assistance will be taken from Punjab Rangers and other law enforcement agencies to take action against poachers.

Punjab Wildlife has allowed pheasant hunting in different tehsils of Punjab from December 1 to January 31 only on Sundays. After the reports of illegal hunting of pheasants and pheasants came to light, Secretary Forests and Wildlife took strict notice and instructed the Wildlife Special Squad and field staff to be more active.

Deputy Director Wildlife Salt Range Zahid Ali Khan said that out of 12 tehsils of Chakwal, hunting is allowed in only 5 tehsils while 7 tehsils are closed, while 60% of the tehsils that are open are protected area of ​​Chawasidan Shah.

He further informed that on December 3, a total of 147 vehicles entered the hunting areas in various areas including Chakwal, Klarkahar. 286 hunters had valid hunting licenses while 369 guns were checked.

He said that the field staff fined 77 thousand rupees by summoning 6 hunters for violating the rules and regulations.

It should be noted that the Salt Range is the most valuable area in terms of wildlife. However, Wildlife has a severe shortage of manpower and vehicles. Hunters have modern vehicles and weapons while wildlife field staff monitor on motorcycles or old vehicles.

Besides, the field staff checked 96 hunters in Rawalpindi region and 10 people were challaned for violation of rules and illegal hunting.

Similarly, Assistant Director Wildlife District Mandi Bahauddin Mujahid Kaleem along with his team arrested 2 poachers engaged in illegal hunting of chickens and settled the case by fining them 60 thousand rupees as departmental compensation.