Illegal hunter carrying air gun arrested near Trail VI

Islamabad : The guards of Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) during patrolling in the Margallah hills intercepted an illegal hunter and handed him over to the local police.

According to the details, the security guards deputed by IWMB were on routine patrolling when they spotted a person who was roaming in the forest near Trail VI with air gun. The guards immediately intercepted him and called the local police that have registered a case against him.

Now the local administration has stepped up its efforts to keep vigil over illegal hunters and poachers that also search the nests of the birds during the breeding season. But the laws are not strict enough due to which illegal hunters and poachers pay nominal fine and comfortably get out of the case.

Various gangs of hunters and poachers were also arrested in last couple of years from the Margallah hills who were involved in poaching and hunting of Grey Gorals, Kalij Pheasants and Barking Deer. Only one Kalij Pheasant is usually sold from twenty to twenty five thousand rupees in open market.

There are some 450 bird species in the Margallah hills and main reason for such a high diversity of birds is that this region combines many ecological components that make it a unique location.

It is pertinent to mention here that most of the mammals and birds were rarely visible in the hills in Islamabad due to excessive human movement on trails and roads passing through the hills, but the lockdown period gave the animals ‘freedom to move around’.

One fourth of the bird species come from other regions including Siberia to stay near dams and eat plants having germs, which are very harmful for the health of human beings.

The IWMB has warned that hunting and poaching is strictly banned in the Margallah Hills National Park (MHNP) and anyone found involved in them would face legal action.