Flamingo killings at Rawal Lake prompt inquiry

ISLAMABAD: The reported killing of a flock of flamingos at Rawal Lake has triggered an inquiry by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), with officials saying police support has been sought and legal proceedings will follow once the investigation is completed.

According to the IWMB, the incident took place on June 3 and came to the board’s attention through a bird photographer. An IWMB official said poachers, aided by locals, hunted the birds while they were resting at the lake. The official added that other medium-sized water birds, including coots and moorhens, were also believed to have been killed.

The official said much of the IWMB staff had been busy with seasonal firefighting in Margalla Hills National Park, and alleged that poachers exploited that gap in field presence. The board said about 12 to 13 flamingos were allegedly killed, though the exact number was still being verified. It described the episode as an ecological tragedy, saying flamingos are rarely seen at Rawal Lake during this season and had not been sighted there for many years.

The IWMB said it had submitted a report to the assistant commissioner in Islamabad and collected evidence from the site, including a discharged cartridge. The board said police were cooperating and that a first information report would be registered after further investigation. An IWMB official also said the assistant commissioner had recently visited the board’s office and offered full legal support.

Inquiry under way

After initial inquiries, the IWMB said it suspected the contractor holding commercial fishing rights at Rawal Lake. In material shared with Dawn from a social media post about the episode, the birds were said to have circled the lake and come under fire each time they attempted to land, forcing the survivors to leave the area.

The board said it was unusual to see migratory birds at Rawal Lake in summer and believed the flamingos may have been vagrant birds. It noted that flamingos are more commonly found in the Salt Range and are seldom seen at the Islamabad water body. The official warned that the incident could discourage the birds from returning.

Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination spokesperson Mohammad Saleem Shaikh said the IWMB had taken immediate notice of the matter and started an inquiry. He said a team had already visited the site, gathered preliminary evidence and begun an assessment to verify the reports and identify those involved.

Saleem Shaikh said the investigation was also examining claims that the birds may have been slaughtered and their meat consumed. He said if the allegations were confirmed, action would be taken under wildlife protection laws against all those found responsible. He added that local police had been informed and were assisting efforts to trace the perpetrators.

He said flamingos are an important component of Pakistan’s wetland ecosystems and migratory bird populations, and their protection is necessary for ecological balance and biodiversity conservation.