The Punjab government recently seized a rare eagle in Taunsa, valued at over $36,000 internationally. This recovery occurred amid a broader crackdown on the illegal wildlife trade within the province.
Punjab Wildlife officials initiated the operation following a tip-off, collaborating with local police to apprehend a suspect smuggling rare birds overseas. The healthy eagle will soon be released into the wild, equipped with a tracker to monitor its movements.
Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb highlighted the critical role birds play in ecological balance. She mentioned numerous endangered species have been rescued and rehabilitated, many of which now reside in zoos.
On September 16, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities disrupted a smuggling operation involving 78 rare cranes at the Sikandar Check Post in South Waziristan. The KP Department of Climate Change, Forests, and Wildlife led this successful intervention. Wildlife officers stopped a vehicle, discovered the cranes, and detained the driver. These cranes are now awaiting transfer to the Dera Ismail Khan Zoo.
