Parrot species facing extinction threat due to unrestricted netting: Habib Ajmal

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FAISALABAD: Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) Standing Committee on Wild Life Conservation and Fishing Promotion Chairman, Mr Habib Ajmal has said that parrots are one of the most popular local species of birds which face serious threat of extinction due to fast diminishing urban plantation and unrestricted netting, poaching and hunting of this indigenous bird variety.

Addressing the second meeting of the committee here on Sunday, Ajmal said that breeding season of different birds starts from February 28 and goes on to August 30, and during this period legal as well as illegal hunting, sale & purchase of parrots. as well as, all other birds should be checked to save wildlife from extinction.

He requested FCCI president Mr Shabbir Hussain Chawla to invite the director general, director and other concerned officials of the wildlife department to visit FCCI and brief its members about the measures taken to preserve wildlife in this city bursting with industrial and economic activities.

The Standing Committee on Wild Life Conservation and Fishing Promotion was also critical of the illegal poaching of migratory birds through nets and said that this trend should also be discouraged by launching a comprehensive awareness campaign.

Syed Maratab Ali Shah requested members of this committee to set an example by feeding birds in addition to providing them water at their rooftops. “They should also encourage other people to do the same as it is tantamount to “Sadqa” in our religion”, he observed.

Chaudhry Talat Mehmood said that the real issue is merciless chopping of trees for the expansion of urban areas which deprives birds of their natural habitat and shelter. He also said that the government must allocate open spaces especially around urban areas where birds could live in peace. “These plantations would also provide a breathing space to the concrete jungle snorting and increasing at a much faster pace inside its radius”, he added.

The committee chairman informed that a comprehensive campaign should be launched by exploiting all available means of communication.