The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Wildlife Department has confirmed that the province’s hunting season will commence on February 15 under a set of stringent regulations aimed at conserving wildlife.
Officials said waterfowl hunting will be permitted only on weekends Saturdays and Sundays and will continue until March 15.
Participation is restricted to hunters holding a valid shooting licence which is available for a fee of Rs. 6,000.
Under the rules a licensed hunter can bag a maximum of five birds per day. The department has also outlawed the use of electronic gadgets such as MP3 players and sound devices often used to lure birds. Violators will be proceeded against under applicable wildlife protection laws.
Authorities have further announced a complete hunting ban in specific regions of Lower and Upper Chitral.
Environmentally sensitive sites including Shandur Lake, Broghil, and Tor Khos, have been designated as no-hunting zones to safeguard fragile ecosystems.
The Wildlife Department has appealed to hunters to fully comply with government guidelines stressing that responsible practices are essential to protect biodiversity and preserve natural habitats during the hunting season.
Earlier, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Wildlife department was under fire after a rare snow leopard was found dead in the mountains of Dir.
As per details, the endangered snow leopard was last seen 60 days ago in Wakht village of Garam Chashma valley, following a 10-year long disappearance.
The internet is lashing out at the PTI KP government for their non-serious attitude and lack of effort to save the endangered species.
Reacting to the incident, deputy ranger of wildlife department, Shafiq Ahmed said that “After receiving a report about spotting the snow leopard carcass, we reached the spot along with a team. The carcass was frozen, which meant that the animal had died many hours before our arrival. The cause of death of the wild cat would be ascertained only after the postmortem is carried out.”
Also read: Rare snow leopard found dead in Dir mountains, KP Wildlife Dept under fire
