LAHORE: In a major crackdown on illegal wildlife hunting, the Punjab Wildlife Rangers successfully rescued a female Para deer and apprehended seven individuals involved in the poaching of Para deer, pigeons, and pheasants. The rescued female Para deer, found straying near Mandi Ahmedabad, was safely transferred to Sulemanki Wildlife Park after a thorough medical examination. Deputy Chief Wildlife Ranger Sahiwal Region Raja Muhammad Ehsan and Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Okara District Muhammad Sarfaraz, along with their team and local residents, successfully conducted the rescue operation. In another notable operation, Deputy Chief Wildlife Ranger Gujranwala Region Asim Bashir Cheema and Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Narowal District Qasim Raza, in collaboration with Chenab Rangers, arrested a poacher near Abyal Check Post in the Border Belt Public Wildlife Reserve. A slaughtered Para deer and a motorcycle were recovered from the accused who was formally charged under the Wildlife Act/Protected Areas Act at Sadar Shakargarh Police Station. Meanwhile, Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Attock District Shahzeb Khurshid and his team apprehended six hunters in Fateh Jang Tehsil and Attock for illegally hunting pigeons and pheasants. The offenders were fined Rs. 369,000 as departmental compensation. Overall, fines totaling Rs 450,000 were imposed on six individuals for illegal possession and hunting of wildlife, and an FIR has been registered against the Para deer poacher. These operations are part of a continuing province-wide initiative to safeguard wildlife and enforce anti-poaching laws. The operations were carried out under the leadership of Chief Wildlife Ranger Mubeen Elahi, following directives from Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Secretary Forest and Wildlife Punjab, Captain Tahir Zafar Abbasi (r). Copyright Business Recorder, 2025