Punjab’s wildlife department has ramped up its efforts to combat illegal hunting, arresting six suspects and seizing firearms in connection with the unlawful hunting of wild ducks in the border areas of the province. The crackdown took place in the Gatti and Naddala areas of Gujrat’s tehsil, where a special wildlife squad conducted raids and recovered four 12-bore shotguns, two rifles, and hundreds of bullets.
The arrested individuals were taken into custody during a blockade operation and face charges under the Punjab Wildlife Act. Officials emphasized that the operation demonstrates their commitment to protecting wildlife in restricted areas, particularly in the Border Belt Public Wildlife Reserve, where all hunting activities are prohibited without special permits from the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department. These areas, including all public wildlife reserves and the border regions up to eight kilometers from the zero line, are strictly off-limits for unauthorized hunting.
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The raids and arrests come amid growing concerns over illegal poaching in Punjab’s protected zones. Last month, a significant case of illegal hunting occurred at the Head Rasul Game Reserve in Mandi Bahauddin, where a group of individuals used a single hunting permit to hunt over 400 waterfowl. Fahad Malik, the head of Save Climate and Nature, condemned the violation and stressed the need for stricter hunting laws and improved conservation efforts. He called for a review of current policies and urged the Department of Wildlife to ensure greater transparency and accountability in enforcing wildlife protection regulations.
