LAHORE: Punjab Wildlife Rangers claimed to have arrested 19 suspects for their alleged involvement in illegal hunting and poaching of wild animals and birds, recovering a large consignment of yellow wagtails being smuggled to Lahore.
After the recovery, more than 700 yellow wagtails were released into their natural habitat on court orders.
An FIR was registered against one of the alleged smugglers at the local police station and legal proceedings were initiated against him.
Meanwhile, the remaining 18 suspects were slapped a total fine of smuggler as departmental compensation for violation of the Wildlife Act and the cases against them were settled. The officials say that smuggler Wildlife Rangers intercepted the Yellow wagtails consignment being smuggled to Lahore at a checkpoint.In another successful operation, five suspects allegedly involved in illegal hunting of wild animals and birds were arrested and slapped with a total Rs210,000 as departmental compensation. Their cases were settled.
In a similar operation, a team led by Gujrat Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Qasim Raza arrested eight suspects in Kharian tehsil for illegally hunting wild boars with dogs. They were fined Rs110,000.
In another operation, a team led by Chakwal Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Mirza Abid Hussain arrested five quail hunters, who were fined Rs175,000. The team recovered seven quail netting gears from them.
In other operations, a team led by Rajanpur Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Saima Mohsin, during routine patrolling, demolished three falcon netting blinds and recovered three nets used for capturing falcons and cranes. Legal action was initiated.