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Protected animals recovered: Wildlife officials raid animal shops

By Amar Guriro

KARACHI: A Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) team raided three shops selling animals in Empress Market, Saddar and recovered a large number of animals that are protected under the Sindh Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1972.

These animals included 200 wild pigeons, 40 water fowls, 20 partridges, 28 red-legged partridges, two monkeys, 20 Sindhi parrots and 10 large Pahari parrots. These birds and animals cost tens of thousand of rupees in the local market. Though, they were recovered, not a single shopkeeper selling these protected species was arrested for violating the Wildlife Ordinance. Interestingly, the team also received a fine of Rs 50,000 from the shopkeepers selling these birds and animals.

“We received information and raided these shops,” said wildlife team leader inspector Muhammad Mumtaz. “We tried to conduct raids before but unfortunately the shopkeepers always managed to escape.” He revealed that when his team raided the bird market, the rest of the shopkeepers selling protected wildlife fled. Talking about the rescue of these protected species, he added that immediately after the raids, his team rushed to Haleji Lake in Thatta district to release these birds and animals.

However, Sindh Wildlife Minister Daya Ram Essrani claimed that his department is keeping all the birds and animals. “We have recovered such large number of animals after a long time and we will release these birds later,” he said, adding that an entirely new policy will be formed for the release of the red-legged partridges.

Essrani further said that some of the local birds such as parrots, wild pigeons and water fowls can be released in the province but for the release of animals including the monkeys and the red-legged partridges his department does not have any laws because these animals are not habitants of Sindh. “We have approached the Sindh chief minister to notify the implementation of special rules so the department can sell these animals and earn a revenue, till then we will keep them in our custody,” said Essrani.

Adjacent to the historical clock tower market Empress Market, there is a huge market comprising of dozens of shops that sell protected animals. The trade of protected wildlife commonly takes place in major markets of the city including the one near Empress Market. One can buy birds such as sparrows, water fowls, parrots, macaws, allies, doves, pheasants, partridges and hunting falcons and many animals including monkeys, cats, and foxes from there.

“These shopkeepers have either acquired a dealer license in the past or they have gotten a mini-zoo permit with which they are selling protected animals. However, since last year we have completely banned dealer licenses and have stopped issuing mini-zoo permits,” Essrani added. “We are also not renewing old permits, thus we hope that these shops will soon loose their legal position and then we will be able to close down such markets.”

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