The Government of Punjab on Thursday expressed its concern over the rise in incidents of illegal wildlife possession in the province which constitutes clear violations of the relevant Wildlife Laws and adversely impacts Pakistan’s international standing.

It is imperative to reiterate that various species of birds and animals are categorized as protected animals under Schedule III of the Punjab Wildlife Act, 1974.

Consequently, the possession of these protected birds like whistling teal, swans, cranes, bustards, etc., or mammals such as black bears, leopards, hill foxes, hog dear, etc. as mentioned in Schedule III of the Act Ibid, is illegal, says a press release issued on Thusday.

It further said that recently, multiple reports of these unlawful activities have been received by the government. Therefore, all Deputy Directors (Wildlife) have been directed to take measures for the prrotection of such animals.
The Deputy Directors (Wildlife) should launch a combing operation to identify and rescue any illegally possessed wild animals as protected within the next 10 days in their respective jurisdictions. Deputy Directors (Wildlife) have to initiate legal proceedings against offenders under the purview of the Punjab Wildlife Act, 1974, and any other applicable laws.

They have been further asked to launch a comprehensive awareness campaign utilizing various platforms, including social media, announcements, and digital graphics, to eradicate cruel acts against animals. It said particular emphasis shall be placed on raising awareness about the issues of illegal wildlife possession and violence. The campaign shall also publicize the punishments associated with these offenses to deter potential offenders.

To effectively eliminate this menace from Punjab, Wildlife officers must ensure stringent enforcement of the Punjab Wildlife Act 1974, subsequent relevant rules, and guidelines. Immediate action must be taken to address this issue.