The Punjab Wildlife Department has ramped up its efforts against illegal hunting during the ongoing falcon and quail hunting season, registering more than 125 First Information Reports (FIRs) across various police stations in the province. According to the Punjab Wildlife Rangers, over 300 wild birds have been rescued from poachers and released back into their natural habitats.
The majority of the offenders were involved in the illegal netting and trapping of quails, partridges, and parrots, especially in regions such as Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Jhang, the Salt Range, and South Punjab. These areas have become hotspots for poaching activities, as poachers target migratory birds like falcons and quails that arrive in Pakistan each year from August.
Dr. Ghulam Rasool, Deputy Chief Wildlife Ranger Punjab, highlighted that falcons, which prefer semi-desert and hilly terrains, are often used for hunting. The riverine and hilly regions of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur, as well as the Salt Range in Sargodha and Khushab, are known to be major habitats for these prized birds. Quails, which thrive in the agricultural lands of Punjab’s central districts, are particularly vulnerable to hunting.
Wildlife officials have reported that hunters often use inhumane methods, such as tethering other birds as bait or employing nets, to trap these birds. The commercial quail farming industry in the outskirts of Lahore and Kasur has also contributed to the widespread hunting of these birds.
Chief Wildlife Ranger Mubeen Elahi reaffirmed that the department is fully committed to eradicating illegal hunting across the province and will continue its operations with increased force. He warned violators that they would face severe legal consequences without exception.
Mastanir Afzal Lodhi, a leader of the Pakistan Hunters’ Association, alleged that illegal hunting operations would not be possible without the involvement of certain wildlife officials. He pointed out that falcons captured in Punjab and Sindh are often transported to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where they are sold at auctions. The illegal price of a falcon in Pakistan can range from PKR 500,000 to PKR 10 million, with many of these birds eventually being sold to wealthy hunters from Gulf states.
The black market for falcons is thriving, with birds fetching astronomical prices at auctions. In recent years, falcons have been sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, attracting international buyers despite the species being protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Conservationists are concerned that the continued poaching of falcons and other migratory birds not only threatens Pakistan’s biodiversity but also undermines its international obligations. The ongoing crackdown is crucial to protect these endangered species, many of which face additional pressures from habitat loss and climate change.
