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Govt urged to declare Nag Valley as Houbara sanctuary

LAHORE: The endangered bird, Houbara Bustard, which breeds in Central Asian Republics, has also been reported to have breeding habitats in south western parts of Balochistan, but unabated hunting has put its existence to severe danger in these parts as well.

This was reported by Mohammed Sajid Nadeem from Houbara Foundation for the WWF quarterly magazine 'Natura'.

Pointing out the dangers faced by the few breeding habitats of this endangered species the writer has urged the government and concerned authorities to immediately declare Nag Valley in Balochistan as a 'Houbara Sanctuary' and to strictly check the bird poaching and trapping in this area.

Nag Valley is a sub-tehsil of Besima, located south-west of district Kharan in Balochistan.

Following measures have been urged to protect the breeding places of Houbara:

Ñ Slow down the removal of those bushes that provide food and a breeding habitat for houbaras.

Ñ Permanently ban hunting during breeding season.

Ñ Strictly enforce legislation and penalise people involved in hunting or poaching.

Ñ Discourage development of new agricultural fields which are prime breeding habitat of these birds.

Ñ Arrest deforestation which has resulted in the loss of shelter and nesting for breeding birds and their chicks.

Ñ Conduct long-term research projects, involving foreign scientists as well.

Ñ Educate the local people (98 percent illiterates) in conservation ethics through awareness campaigns and involving local communities in conservation activities. Income generating activities related to conservation and wildlife survival should be introduced in the valley.

Hunting loving people of Nag Valley indulge in hunting largely for meat, to have fun and to collect houbara eggs and chicks for the sake of sale. Sajjad Nadeem reports that hunting takes place throughout the year without any consideration for the breeding season. The people also invite hunters from other areas like Panjgur and Besima.

The people of Nag Valley are poor and literacy rate for women is almost zero. The water-table is low and many people depend on rainwater for drinking by collecting it from ponds used by livestock as well. APP