QUETTA - The illegal hunting of precious Suleman markhor has been banned in the Takato mountain range, north of Quetta valley, to preserve this wild animal from extinction.
The decision came after a prolonged consideration of the Forest & Wildlife Department and Takato Organisation at a meeting held on Tuesday in Metian Pishin. The participants of the meeting reviewed various ways to stop illicit hunting of the Suleman markhor in the Takato Mountain range.
“Every sort of illegal hunting of the Suleman markhor and other animals as well as birds of precious species will be banned in the Takato Mountain range,” decided the Forests and Wildlife Department officers, notables of the area and members of the Takato Organization.
No substantial and commendable efforts were being made by the departments concerned to preserve it from extinction. The driving force behind the much-awaited decision came at a critical juncture when hunting of the wild goat, markhor, is in full swing in the area of Takato Mountain range.
Markhor is a large species of the wild goat which is found in north-eastern Afghanistan, north and central Pakistan, Kashmir in northern India, southern Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and in the Himalayas.
The participants also sought cooperation of hunters and area people to save this animal from extinction.
The hunters were, however, warned that they would have to face serious consequences if found hunting in the Takato Mountain range. “Anyone found violating the ban will be sent behind bars for at least three years besides paying fine of Rs 4 million under the Wildlife Act, 2014,” asserted the participants of the meeting.
It was also decided to constitute four committees for ensuring round-the-clock presence of their volunteers in the Takato Mountain range to control illegal hunting of markhor.
Efforts at both government and social levels are direly required to stop this illegal hunting of the markhor which is considered a source of beauty of the Takato Mountain range.
