“More than 100 million animals are reported killed by hunters each year. That number does not include the millions of animals for which kill figures are not maintained by state wildlife agencies.”
An issue that gets buried amidst the chatter is of the world’s rapidly deteriorating eco-system. The primary reason behind such decay is the rising trend in recent years of hunting. Foreigners, specially from the Arab nations are fond of the Houbara Butard that is renowned among these lands. Their ecological impact on Balochistan’s ecology is what led to Balochistan Government’s choice to stop the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from issuing hunting licenses to Arab and other foreigners. The administration has put a prohibition on chasing in all parts of the territory. The boycott has been set up utilizing the Wildlife Act of 2014 and different laws relating to preserving the region’s wildlife and ecology.
The move came after 12 individuals including six Qatari nationals were captured for illicitly hunting the Houbara Bustard and other endangered species a week ago. The local official that allowed them to proceed with this practice was similarly apprehended. It was on his invitation that the outsiders had obviously made a trip to Pakistan.
Numerous outside nationals, to a great extent from Gulf states go to Pakistan to hunt endangered species of birds and other animals. These exercises are not liable to happen without the security and help of those powerful in the region.
Without specifying the Houbara Bustard, the Provincial Government also asked the Foreign Office not to issue licenses to anybody for hunting in Balochistan. The Balochistan Government on Friday evening coordinated each of the 34 representative officials of the region not to enable anybody to hunt in their individual locale. Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri led the meeting, which embraced the Balochistan Wildlife (protection, preservation, conservation, and management) Act 2014 and chose to execute it in letter and soul.
The careless exercises and pitiless tactics used by hunters make unsalvageable harm to the agricultural land. Locals have often complained without reprieve of the harms the SUV clad hunters do on their fields while also mourning of providing no sort of compensation. It is thought that the move will be welcomed in the region and will finally bring ease of mind to the locals ravaged by the hunting antics.
It is necessary at this time to not only ensure that this act accomplishes more than putting a few blots of ink on paper. There needs to be a clear and visible change in the local infrastructure to ensure the prevention of any future hunts. Most of the hunting parties arrive with plans to hunt and further diminish species on the verge of extinction. Special provisions need to be enacted to conserve the species while also erecting severe punishments for those who choose to violate this law. As there is no one above law and everyone should be treated with the same mechanism.