The entire Thar is in mourning as the photographs of the hunted endangered Chinkara deer corpses have come to be viral on multi-social media platforms. Seven rare deers and one wild rabbit were hunted and killed by the culprits in the outskirts of the village Rangilo near the district headquarters Mithi, in the Tharparkar desert yesterday.
According to Junaid Azad, a local reporter who uploaded the photographs and videos on his social media account. Since then, civil society members, social activists, and well-wishers of wildlife have come out in solidarity on social media sites and outrage increased all over the Tharparker and across Sindh. The incident took place in the Thar desert where beautiful blue-tailed peafowl are already dying and many other wildlife species are under stress with the drought and extreme weather events and these species combating the impact of global climate change.
Reports show that three criminals were caught by residents of different villages and identified as a Ghani Nohrio belonging to the village Togay Jo Tarr, Ali Ahmed Mangrio related from the village Noor Mohmmad Mangrio and Salam Bari from Sufi Faqeer, Umerkot district. While 2 of them Saleem Nohrio from the village Chakar kara and Mohmmad Hasan Nohrio hails from the village of Togay Jo Tarr escaped on the spot.
The case of hunted deer has been lodged against the criminals at the request of Saroop Singh Thakar at Mithi Police Station. Police also seized the hunters’ jeep. Apart from Dr. Badar Jameel Mandhro, secretary forest and wildlife department to govt. of Sindh has taken notice and pertinent officials, Riaz Ahmed Rind, dupty conservator wildlife, Mirpurkhas, Abdul Ghafoor Sarhandi, Game officer Tharparkar, Basiro Khaskheli, Game watcher, Mirpurkhas were placed under suspension due to their failure in obligation. Their headquarter during suspension shall be the administrative department. Aijaz Ahmed Talpur, deputy conservator, Larkana, assign to take an additional charge of deputy conservator of wildlife, Mirpurkhas in addition to his duty. He was also directed to conduct an inquiry into illegal hunting and report to higher authorities within 10 days.
The chinkara deer is listed in the Internation Union of Conservation for Nature (IUCN) red list as a threatened category. These chinkara deer are considered to be the world’s quickest land creature. Besides, in Thar, the hunting of sensitive animals mainly deer is reported almost every month. Escalation in hunting for the last decade has bitterly impacted the population in the Thar desert.
Outrage people assembled and protested against illegal hunting, poaching, and killing of wild animals at Kashmir Chowk in Mithi. They were chanting slogans against fugitives and facilitators and demanding that concerned authorities promptly should take drastic action and heavily fine them. They condemned the tragic incident and call it a black day for Tharis. Uttam Singh Soda, 21-year-old is one of them who followed the offenders and hit the front side of the Jeep to their vehicle. Thari people are appreciating his action and paid honor to him that he dared to confront the criminals amid the straight firing.
Subtropical desert Thar is tracked down in south Pakistan’s Sindh province, near the Pak-Indo border. It is the 6th biggest desert in the world and 3rd in Asia, stretching around more than 19 thousand Square kilometers. It is abundant in biodiversity, this eco-region is inhabited by a diversity of wild animals, reptiles, and herbs. Thar is an eco-friendly region where people are inhabiting in interfaith and harmony with nature.
Residents claim that very influential persons with the backbone politicians used to send outsider hunting groups and with the support of some locals they are hunting the chinkara deer and rabbits as well. The drought, famine-like conditions, long scorched spells, and changing weather patterns have resulted in several troubles, for this reason, deer were thirsty and hungry. A couple of days ago chinkara was emerge in search of water and food but unfortunately was killed by criminals. On the other hand, natural and man-made disasters have shrinkage the natural space for wildlife, Shelters are being overstepped and the degradation of natural habitats takes at risk. Wildlife experts indicate the decline of the chinkara population.
Subsequently the incident, Eng. Harish Chander, has posted on Facebook that in connection with this incident whole of Thar is in shock today and mourning as 7 beautiful deers have been hunted by beasts in the shape of people of the green desert. He demands stern action against these hunters and strong legislation for the protection of natural inhabitants and wildlife. Bharu Mal Amrani, the Thar-based environmentalist, uploaded the notification of Mithi wildlife Sanctuary and communicated that there is no management plan, day by day hunting is escalating but the wildlife department is uncommunicative. He raises the question that Why related officials are not on the screen? Villagers and police have caught the lawbreakers but officials are not seen anywhere?
According to a notification issued on the first of February in 2017, the Govt of Sindh has been pleased to declare the area as a wildlife sanctuary Tharparkar for all wild birds, and animals, specified in the first and second scheduled to the said ordinance with immediate effect and until further order. The notification shows that 940 square kilometers out of 19 thousand km are under the sanctuary area, despite that the hunting couldn’t be halted.
Sajan Permar, a social activist has said that Mr. Utam Singh and other villagers who have challenged are proud of them. You have committed a good job, you are the loyal guardians of nature. He overwhelmingly added that Thari people are nature-loving and conservators, they are protecting the flora and fauna in Thar. Everyone who protested against the killing of any human being mourned the incident and similarly protested against the killing of the Chinkara deer. Parmar further said that not just cases should be registered but also stern action should be taken against them because they were a threat to the area. They had spread terrorism, fear, and unrest in the area through aerial firing. He added that the concerned authorities should immediately dismiss the services and recruit local villagers in the wildlife department as they are genuine conservationists.
The writer is a Hyderbad-based environmental journalist, he writes mainly on Environment, Wildlife, and Minority issues.
