Punjab wildlife crackdown nets nine suspects province-wide

LAHORE: The Punjab Wildlife Conservation and Parks Department has intensified its province-wide crackdown against illegal hunting, possession and trade of wild animals and birds, resulting in the arrest of nine suspects and registration of FIRs against four individuals in various districts. According to an official statement issued here on Wednesday, the enforcement drive is being carried out under the leadership of Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb as part of efforts to curb wildlife crimes and protect biodiversity across Punjab. The department said the action was taken against individuals involved in the illegal hunting, possession and trade of parrots, pheasants, mynas, peacocks and wild rabbits in the Lahore region and other districts of the province. Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Nankana Ayesha Saleh, along with wildlife rangers, arrested a person involved in the illegal netting of common mynas and imposed a fine of Rs25, 000. In Kasur, Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Aamir Jamil and his team obtained a search warrant and raided a house, recovering two peacocks. The accused was arrested and fined Rs70, 000. In a separate operation, a brown partridge was recovered from a person in illegal possession, who was subsequently fined Rs25, 000. The department further said that in Tehsil Kasur, with the assistance of Pakistan Rangers, a suspect involved in the illegal hunting of a sambar deer using dogs was arrested and an FIR was registered against him. Another individual was fined Rs25, 000 for illegal hunting with dogs. Meanwhile, in Jhelum, Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Arshad Naz arrested an alleged illegal parrot dealer, imposed departmental compensation of Rs15, 000 and released two parrots recovered during the operation. In Bhakkar, Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Muhammad Tariq registered an FIR against a hunting party at the local police station for the illegal hunting of wild rabbits in the protected area of Rakhmani. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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