The Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department has been unable to preserve different species of deer found in the forests and deserts of the province and put an end to their rampant poaching, as the authorities have turned a blind eye to this critical issue.
According to official sources, rare urial and chinkara deer are on the verge of extinction in areas of Chakwal, Khushab, Jehlum, Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur in absence of checks on illegal hunting. Breeding of urial and other rare species in Jallo Park, Lahore Safari Park and captive breeding farms of the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department was also unsatisfactory, added the sources.
The officials, who wished not to be named, disclosed that poachers, notably politicians belonging to rich families and leading businessmen, continued to kill these rare deer since no efforts were being made to stop this illegal practice.
According to them, the performance of wildlife officers was so low that the forests and deserts, which were once abound with different species of deer, have started seeing their near-extinction.
The sources were of the view that the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department director should immediately call a meeting regarding preservation of rare species of deer and other animals and their satisfactory breeding.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department said their officials were making efforts for preservation of endangered species of deer. He said wildlife teams were patrolling the forests to keep animals safe from poachers, especially in Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur. He sounded confident that illegal hunting would soon be stopped.