ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) wildlife directorate on Sunday conducted a raid on a group of people using dogs to hunt wild boars.

An official who asked not to be identified said he received information that individuals were hunting wild boars in the city. “A team raided the location immediately. It was not easy to arrest all of them and some of the individuals managed to flee with the dogs, but we managed to arrest five people, recovered one dog and one wild boar and confiscated a vehicle,” the official said.

He added: “They also said the vehicle was out of order, though a wild boar was tied up in it. We decided to tow the vehicle to the Marghazar Zoo with the suspects, the dog and the boar.”

In response to a question, the official said the group that had been hunting wild board was trained and experienced, and added that “it was painful to see the way they had tied up the wild boar”.

The official said the suspects belong to Kallar Kahar. “We have informed the department’s higher authorities of the suspects,” he said. “We have been getting phone calls from a number of people asking us to release them,” he said.

A senior official of the wildlife directorate who was not authorised to speak on the record confirmed that five people were arrested for hunting wild boars.

“It has become routine for people to come from different areas and hunt wild boars, which are very common in Islamabad,” he said. “Usually, a fine is imposed and they are allowed to go,” he added.— A Reporter