New Delhi: Unarmed villagers from Tharparkar or Thar district in Pakistan’s Sindh province braved gunfire to confront and stop poachers who had killed at least eight deer in a wildlife sanctuary near Chelhar settlement earlier this week. Once the poachers were arrested, the villagers buried carcasses of the hunted deer at a piece of land reserved for them in Rangilo village, images of which were shared on social media.
The incident, which took place Tuesday, highlights not just the bravery of the villagers but also the larger problem of unchecked poaching in several districts of Pakistan including Punjab. A short-staffed wildlife department is no match for poachers who are armed and have access to faster modes of transport.
Local boy saves the day
It wasn’t the police or wildlife officials who nabbed the poachers, but a young Thari boy, Utam Singh Rajput. A news report by Dawn stated that the boy, “without caring for his life, went after them in his jeep”. The poachers were trying to leave the area early Tuesday morning when Utam Singh spotted them. He gave chase in his jeep and stopped them by ramming into their vehicle. By then, other villagers had joined the youth.
Though the poachers reportedly opened fire, the villagers did not flee. Two hunters escaped, but the villagers were able to nab three of the hunters who were handed over to the local police.
As word spread, people gathered with the bodies of the deer in protest, following which the Sindh government suspended three officers with the wildlife department. While the Thar Bar Association reportedly stated that it would not represent the poachers, wildlife activists have called for stronger laws to protect endangered animals.
After the protest, residents buried the bodies of the deer in a graveyard, images of which were shared on Twitter. They evoked a strong response from many people. “This is symbolically a powerful message for conservation of biodiversity and nature,” said one Twitter user.
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Poaching sinks its teeth
Poaching and illegal demand for animal parts is a growing problem, one that can threaten the existence of a species. More than 2,000 cases of poaching were reported in Pakistan’s Punjab province in 2020 alone, and the numbers are growing.
The Thar desert pocket is notorious for poaching incidents. In 2020, Police recovered 18 deer that were being smuggled from Umarkot in a black jeep to be taken to a private zoo. In 2021, there were deer reported to be stolen from DI Khan wildlife park in February. Also, videos of deer being illegally hunted in Sindh province went viral this year around mid-April, following which the wildlife department had set up an inquiry against the illegal poaching of deer for private zoos, circuses etc.
Needless to say, social media activism has helped endangered Pakistani deer due to diligent outrage over recorded incidents of illegal poaching. Moreover, the population of deer, especially ‘Chinakra’ that is native to the Thar desert, has significantly risen in the past two years.