Migratory Birds start arriving in Pakistan
Pakistan Times National News Desk

PESHAWAR: Birds that migrate from Siberia to Pakistan and India during September to November have started arriving here and the NWFP Wildlife department has started organizing communities along river Kabul and Indus to contain hunting.

Birds have started arriving in Pakistan as the winter season started in Siberia (Russia) and this activity will gain momentum if rains are received here, Chief Conservator NWFP Wildlife Department, Dr. Mumtaz Malik told 'Pakistan Times' Sunday.

4500Kms Voyage via 'Indus Fly-way No. 4'

Dr. Malik said the migration journey starts from Siberia to Pakistan and ends in India at Bahartpure.

This route is known in the international migration routes as 'Indus Fly-way No. 4' or 'Green Route', he added. The distance covered by birds during migration is around 4500 kilometers.

The migratory bird fly from Siberia to Afghanistan, Karakorum range, across river Indus in Pakistan and finally towards India.

The Stop-Overs

During their journey, the birds make stopovers at lakes and water basins at Nowshera, Tanda Dam in Kohat, Swat, Chitral, Punjab and at Haleji, Keenjaar and Lungsee lakes in Sind.

The birds mainly consist of water fowl, hobara bustard, cranes, teals, pintail, mallard, geeze, spoon bills, waders, palicons and gadwall.

The Wildlife department, he said has taken a number of measures to contain hunting of migratory birds and in this regards work was done on organizing communities along river Kabul and Indus.

Recap

Earlier, before 1970 there was no rule for protection of migratory birds. However, after Ramsar convention in Iran and Bonn Convention in Germany laws to protect migratory birds was enacted.

Department has developed wet lands where laws were strictly implemented for regulating hunting.

Management of Waterfowls

A project named 'Management of Waterfowls' along river Kabul and Indus in NWFP, aimed at regulating the hunting of migratory birds in the province, was also launched.

Under the project, he continued, 20 points from Warsak to Kund along river Kabul and from Kund to Tarbela along river Indus were selected where communities will be organized to control hunting.

Similarly, two hunting huts have been established at village Agra near Sardaryab in District Charsadda and village Pushtoon Gari.

The Hunting Huts

These hunting huts, he added, were established to offer opportunity to communities to generate income through charging hunters for providing hunting facilities at the hut and issuing permits.

Almost 90 percent of the amount collected by communities through issuing of permit is spent on community uplift and remaining 10 percent goes to national exchequer.

Bag Limit Reduced

The wildlife department has also decided to reduce the 'Bag limit' of hunters from 20 birds to 10 birds. "We are also considering to restrict hunting on selected days like weekly holidays", he said.

In response to a question about reduction in number of migratory birds, Dr. Mumtaz said those birds are reduced whose reproduction is slow.

Whereas, the birds whose reproduction is fast like ducks and water fowls are coming in same number. Sometimes, due to change is weather and especially due to drought, the birds change their route.

The Reason of Migration

About reasons behind migration, he said some viewed that cold weather compel the birds to move towards warmer areas.

Another view is that these birds have inherited a natural phenomenon of moving from one place to another for reproduction purpose.

Special Cell to release Caged Birds in Punjab

'Pakistan Times' Special Correspondent, Nasreen Aslam reports from Lahore; The Wildlife and Parks Department Punjab on the directive of Chief Minister Punjab, Chaudhary Pervez Ellahi, has established a special cell for release of caged birds and to take stern action against the unscrupulous elements involved this inhuman act.

Official sources said Sunday that any person could inform the cell by telephone about the sale of caged birds anywhere in the province for immediate action against the violators besides spontaneous release of birds from captivity.

The information would be received during office hours at following telephone numbers of Conservator of Wildlife and Parks Punjab Abdul Qadeer Mehal at: 042-9292385, 042-9292377.

Directive to WLOs

All district Wildlife Officers across the province, have been directed to continue the drive in their respective areas against the sale of caged birds and culprits
be taken to task.

Mobile teams of Wildlife and Parks have so far arrested 39 persons from different areas of the city and released over two hundred caged birds from their
possession.

Sale of Caged Birds Banned

Chief Secretary Punjab Kamran Rasul has imposed complete ban of sale of caged birds and directed the department to implement the same in letter and spirit.●