LAHORE: The Punjab Wildlife Department has intensified its province-wide crackdown on illegal hunting, trade, and smuggling of protected species, arresting 18 suspects in multiple operations across Punjab in recent days.
According to a department spokesperson, raids were conducted in Okara, Jhang, Khanewal, Multan, Sargodha, DG Khan, Rajanpur, and Attock districts. The operations led to the recovery of 80 quails and 16 illegal netting gears used for trapping birds. All rescued birds were released back into their natural habitat. More than Rs600,000 in fines were imposed on violators, while legal proceedings against others are underway.
In Sargodha, Deputy Chief Wildlife Ranger Naeem Tahir’s team apprehended three falcon poachers and recovered nets, pigeons, and two falcons. In the D.G. Khan region, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Ranger Sakhi Muhammad Joiya, wildlife teams foiled an attempt to smuggle a large consignment of wild quails to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The seized quails were released, and nine offenders were fined Rs195,000.
In Attock, Assistant Chief Ranger Shahzeb Khurshid arrested four illegal partridge hunters and imposed fines amounting to Rs250,000. Similarly, in Jhang, Assistant Chief Ranger Abdullah Bilal seized three netting gears, fined one poacher Rs30,000, and demolished several falcon-hunting hides.
Further operations in Okara and Multan, led by Rangers Muhammad Sarfraz and Dr Ghulam Rasool, resulted in the recovery of additional trapping equipment and the registration of multiple FIRs. In Chakwal’s Salt Range, illegal falcon hunters were arrested and later sent to jail on judicial remand.
In another major action, an urial hide was recovered from a suspect’s house following a court-approved search; the offender was fined Rs450,000.
The Wildlife Department spokesperson reaffirmed that a “zero-tolerance policy” is being enforced across Punjab to curb wildlife poaching, trade, and smuggling, with further operations planned in the coming weeks.
