Illegal Hunting of Protected Himalayan Grey Goral Sparks Outrage in AJK
Key Points:
- Illegal Slaughter of Protected Species:
- Police in Bhimber district, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), registered a case against three villagers for capturing and slaughtering a Himalayan grey goral—a rare and protected species—violating the AJK Wildlife Act 2014.
- The incident came to light after graphic videos of the act circulated on social media, prompting a formal complaint by game watcher Aamir Rafique.
- Legal Action & Investigation:
- An FIR was filed at Choki (Samahni) police station under Section 10(2) of the Wildlife Act, which prohibits hunting protected species.
- The suspects—Sajid Hassan, Muhammad Nawaz, and Muhammad Mushtaq—fled before authorities arrived.
- Syeda Shaista Ali, a Wildlife and Fisheries Department official, condemned the act as “inhuman and criminal”, vowing strict legal action.
- Conservation Concerns:
- The Himalayan grey goral (Naemorhedus goral bedfordi) is classified as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN Red List, with populations declining due to habitat loss, illegal hunting, and livestock competition.
- This follows another high-profile case in January, where three individuals, including government employees, were arrested for hunting a rare Suleiman Markhor in Balochistan.
- Broader Wildlife Protection Efforts:
- Earlier in the week, the Punjab Wildlife Department and PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars signed an MoU to strengthen conservation efforts, with cricketer Sikandar Raza advocating for wildlife protection.
- In June 2023, authorities arrested five poachers and seized four slaughtered chinkara deer, rifles, and a vehicle in another crackdown.
The illegal hunting of endangered species remains a critical challenge for wildlife conservation in Pakistan. While legal action has been initiated against the perpetrators in AJK, stronger enforcement, public awareness, and community engagement are needed to curb such crimes. The recent collaboration between sports entities and wildlife departments signals a positive step, but sustained efforts are essential to protect Pakistan’s biodiversity and prevent further ecological damage.
Call to Action:
- Strict penalties for wildlife violators to deter future offenses.
- Increased surveillance in vulnerable habitats to prevent poaching.
- Public awareness campaigns to promote conservation and responsible tourism.
