The Punjab government has successfully recovered a rare species of eagle in the Taunsa area, valued at over Rs100 million in the global market, according to officials. This operation is part of an ongoing crackdown against the illegal trade and smuggling of rare animals and birds in the province.
The operation was initiated following a tip-off, leading to a coordinated effort between the Wildlife Department and local police. One suspect involved in the illegal trade has been arrested.
Wildlife authorities confirmed that the eagle, which is in good health, is valued at more than $36,000 in international markets. Plans are in place to release the eagle back into the wild with a tracking device attached to monitor its movements.
Punjab’s Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb highlighted the crucial role of birds in maintaining ecological balance and noted that several rare animals and birds have been recovered and relocated to zoos, where many received life-saving treatment.
In a related incident earlier this month, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle 78 rare cranes from Balochistan. This operation was led by the KP Department of Climate Change, Forests, and Wildlife at the Sikandar Check Post in South Waziristan.
Wildlife personnel intercepted a vehicle carrying the cranes, leading to the arrest of the driver and the seizure of the birds, which are set to be transferred to the Dera Ismail Khan Zoo for safe custody.
