A significant operation against illegal bird trading was executed by the Wildlife Department in Tollinton Market, led by Director General (DG) Wildlife Mudassar Riaz Malik. This operation, conducted in collaboration with district administration and local police, resulted in the arrest of six illegal bird dealers and the recovery of hundreds of protected birds. The shops involved were sealed, and legal proceedings are currently underway.
The operation was initiated following directives from the Lahore High Court, with Deputy Director Wildlife Lahore Region Ghulam Rasool overseeing the efforts.
Various species, including parrots, partridges, doves, and peacocks, were seized from the shops of the arrested individuals. This crackdown is part of a larger initiative to combat illegal wildlife trade in the region.
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DG Mudassar Riaz Malik emphasized that the Wildlife Department has launched a comprehensive operation targeting illegal hunters and traders. So far, 471 individuals have been fined for violating the Wildlife Act, accumulating penalties of Rs 8.45 million. Alongside this recent operation, a total of 343 wild animals and 11,740 wild birds have been recovered from illegal traders. The recovered birds are set to be released into their natural habitat after court approval.
In a related effort, Punjab Wildlife officials recently rescued a rare species of eagle in the Taunsa area, valued at over Rs 100 million in the global market. This operation was also part of the ongoing crackdown against the illegal trade and smuggling of rare animals and birds in the province. Based on a tip-off, a joint operation was executed between the Wildlife Department and local police, resulting in the arrest of a suspect involved in the illegal trade of rare birds for export.
Wildlife authorities confirmed that the eagle, which is in good health, holds a value of more than $36,000 in international markets. It will be released back into the wild with a tracker attached to monitor its movements.
Earlier this month, on September 16, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle 78 rare cranes from Balochistan. This operation, led by the KP Department of Climate Change, Forests, and Wildlife, occurred at the Sikandar Check Post in South Waziristan. Wildlife personnel intercepted a single-cabin vehicle carrying the cranes, and upon inspection, the birds were discovered.
The driver of the vehicle was arrested, and the cranes were seized. The confiscated cranes are scheduled to be transferred to the Dera Ismail Khan Zoo for safe custody.
