How bird hunters turned to wildlife conservation

FAIZA ILYAS — UPDATED JAN 19, 2016 11:32AM

THATTA: Amid the ruthless hunting that goes on unabated in and around the Keenjhar lake –– a major wintering ground for a wide array of waterfowl –– some birds have found a sanctuary where they can fly, search for food and nest without any fear of being hunted by humans. This is all thanks to a group of local hunters who have decided to dedicate their lives to wildlife conservation.

Part of this team is Kamal Khan Palari, a farmer and resident of Nabi Bux Palari village in the Jhimpir union council of Thatta district. His village is one of the five settlements where a no-hunting zone has been active for the past six years.

“I wake up early morning by the chirping of these beautiful birds that we had almost lost. I can’t imagine losing their sights and sounds again,” he shared, showing a strong sense of affection towards the birds.

Initially developed with the help of the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) under a one-year project in 2010, the no-hunting zone is very much in place with the support of different communities.

Continued ...

Shooting match: The great grouse debate

Following a recent debate on the impact shooting has on wildlife conservation, hosted by the World Land Trust at the Royal Society in London, two leading figures, Chris Packham and Andrew Gilruth, from each side put forward their views

read more ...

Endangered birds: Sheikh Hamdan does his bit to conserve bustard species

The terrestrial bird species of houbara bustard are native to dry lands of South, and severely endangered owing to unchecked hunting practices.

In the past, Arab Sheikhs have been blamed for targeting these bird species in Pakistan. However, recently, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, the crown prince of Dubai, in his latest campaign to protect the endangered species of wildlife in Pakistan, has procured about 200 houbara bustards to be set free in friendly habitats of parks in Pakistan, including the Kirthar National Park lying between Karachi and Dadu, and the Hingol National Park which lies on the Makran coast.

This would not only help in conserving these species but also help in their breeding, thus increasing their numbers, and helping the species recover from endangerment.

It is reported that these birds were actually recovered from a local market where these illegally poached endangered species are discreetly available for sale, at a price for Rs50,000 for each bird.

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohd Al Maktoum has been actively engaged in the promotion of wildlife conservation in Pakistan with special emphasis on endangered species like the houbara bustard.

When contacted, the Sheikh’s spokesman passionately talked about the importance of conservation of wildlife and His Highness’s continued commitment to the cause and future plans.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2013.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/522469/endangered-birds-sheikh-hamdan-does-his-bit-to-conserve-bustard-species/