Punjab Wildlife & Parks Department and Falcon Foundation International Pakistan jointly released Peregrine falcons rescued from smugglers back to nature beyond the outskirts of Lahore. These falcons had been confiscated at LahoreInternationalAirport in September 2014 during an attempt to smuggle the birds abroad on an international flight. Peregrines are powerful hunting birds with 389 kilometres per hour speed: the highest measured speed and is listed on Appendix I of CITES, being threatened with extinction. After rescue these birds were confined to Lahore Zoo where Falcon Foundation International Pakistan provided expert care until disposal of legal proceedings. After two months the Court allowed Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department to release the birds. During custody in the zoo, Falcon Foundation tagged the birds with rings and implanted micro-chips in each falcon giving them positive identification. The micro-chips can be identified by a scanner, which the Foundation recommends that every airport and country exit should possess, to guard against replacement of birds.
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