Wildlife department arrest two birds smugglers

Ghulam Mursalin Marwat

LAKKI MARWAT: The wildlife department has arrested two birds’ smugglers and seized from them hundreds of Australian parrots and other precious birds on Tuesday.

DFO wildlife Khan Malook Khan told this correspondent that he formed a special team headed by range officer Mir Aslam Khan after receiving information about the possible attempt of birds’ smuggling. He said that the department’s team seized 700 Australian bajri, fisher birds, cocktails parrots, java sparrows and black masked love birds from a passenger bus bound for Peshawar from Karachi.

“The wildlife official also detained two birds’ smugglers identified as Zakir Muhammad resident of Peshawar and Faiq Zaman of Kohat and registered a case against them relevant section of Wildlife and Biodiversity Act”, he maintained, adding that the precious birds were being smuggled to Peshawar and Kohat from Karachi where they are in great demand and are sold on high prices.

Also in the day, the divisional rescue team of wildlife department rescued a giant pangolin and released it in the natural habitat.

An official said that a villager spotted the animal and informed wildlife officials about it. The divisional rescue team of the department reached the place and rescued the 14 kg animal.

Later the mammal was freed in the natural habitat near Kurrum River. The divisional forest officer rewarded the villager with appreciation certificate and cash prize.