The Punjab wildlife and parks department recently (Sunday) recovered 44 rare bar-headed geese from a group that was engaged in illegal smuggling of protected wildlife for meat. Acting on a tip-off, the wildlife officials carried out an area-specific raid and managed to save the migratory birds, which are known to travel thousands of kilometres from Siberia to the South Asia during the winter season.
Bar-headed geese are a unique and ecologically important species and are very recognisable because of the two black bars on their white heads and grey-brown bodies. They are well-known for the fact that they do very impressive high altitude migration flights, sometimes soaring over the Himalayan Mountains at altitudes of over 7000 meters.
Their bodies are uniquely adapted to coping with low levels of oxygen including adapted lungs and blood cells that enable them to keep performing long-distance flights over some of the most challenging terrain in the world. These geese usually live in wetlands and on lakes and marshes during winter and eat grasses, grains and water plants.
According to the wildlife officials, all the 44 rescued birds were found to be in good health and even no signs of injury or any disease that have afflicted the birds. The department confirmed that the geese will be released in the wild on Monday at Kala Chitta National Park where they will be allowed to return to their natural habitat and continue their natural migratory cycle.
Two suspects who are involved in the illegal trade have been booked for the offence under the Punjab Wildlife Act, according to which the smuggling and hunting of protected animals and birds a non-bailable offence. The government of Punjab hailed the citizen that gave timely information which led to the recovery of the kidnapped birds.
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