WWF-Pakistan calls for efforts to curb hunting, poaching of migratory birds

The WWF-Pakistan has demanded of the federal government to resume the Annual Winter Fowl Survey, which used to be conducted every year in the country to ascertain the number of migratory birds and their migration patterns. 

Migratory birds are being killed, hunted and poached in Pakistan despite local and international restrictions on their hunting.

On the occasion of World Migratory Bird Day, which is celebrated every year on May 10, the WWF-Pakistan stressed the need to create awareness about the bird fauna of Pakistan and called for taking measures to protect migratory species declining in country.

This year’s theme ‘Their Future is our Future – A Healthy Planet for Migratory Birds and People’ highlights the need for conservation and protection of diverse bird fauna which migrate every year to Pakistan.

Rab Nawaz, WWF-Pakistan senior director programmes, pointed out that all stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, academia and students, should act jointly to protect migratory birds, conserve wetlands and help spread awareness about the country’s natural assets. He stressed that the climate change ministry can support the Annual Winter Fowl Survey which was previously carried out every year, but has now been discontinued. “This is an essential requirement to understand the changes in the migration pattern,” he added.

Pakistan lies at a crossroads for bird migration, with its wetlands attracting high numbers of birds annually in the winter season. These birds arrive through the international migration route known as the Indus Flyway, from Siberia and over the Karakorum, Hindu Kush, and Suleiman Ranges along the Indus River down to the delta.

They include a wide variety of ducks and waders, houbara bustard, cranes, teals, pintail, mallard, geese, spoon bills, raptors, and passerines such as warblers, pipits and buntings. Some species, including common and Demoiselle cranes, snipe and pelican enter via the Kurram Agency of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Migratory birds face a number of problems in Pakistan which include habitat loss and degradation, pollution, illegal trade, and ruthless hunting. 

Since all migratory species are hunted in Pakistan and ducks are cruelly and mercilessly killed every year, the population of some duck species, including white-eyed pochard, marbled teal, white eyed pochard and garganey, has drastically decreased.

Cranes, because of their size and beauty, unique calls, and complex behaviour are ruthlessly hunted and trapped during their migration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

In Balochistan they are hunted in Zhob and Lasbela (Sonmiani and Saranda Lake areas) and hundreds are trapped and poached. They are transported in appalling conditions to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where they are kept as pets. Hundreds die during trapping and transportation.

The WWF-Pakistan stressed the need for the Wildlife Departments of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to curb this illegal trade and ruthless hunting. The WWF-Pakistan is working with communities in Lasbela district to control their trade.  

It is believed that there is interdependence of people and nature, and more specifically people and migratory birds. Anthropogenic activities can have negative impact on bird migration, especially the disappearance of wetlands and degradation of bird habitats.

Muhammad Moazzam Khan, WWF-Pakistan technical advisor marine fisheries, pointed out that climate change was also affecting the bird migration. “Wintering birds started arriving in October every year; however, for the past few years birds arrive in November.”

It seems that the migration trends of birds are changing and the duration of these birds staying in Pakistan has decreased substantially, Dr Khan said He stressed the need for the protection of cranes in Lasbela and Zhob, which seem to be the last haven for these majestic birds.