Zeeshan Nasir
Houbara bustard which is also known as MacQueen’s Bustard or Asian bustard is common all over the world especially in Pakistan which has already been placed in the endangered species list.
But recently on Friday the Supreme Court of Pakistan struck down a tough law that has imposed a permanent ban on the hunting of houbara bustards especially for Arabs. The houbara bustards was also abundant in the oil-rich Arab states in the early 1970s, but unfortunately, the bird was hunted near-extinction because they think it contains an aphrodisiac, a myth that isn’t been explained scientifically.
Not to forget the fact that the wealthy sheikhs often travel in every winter from the Gulfs for hunting the bird, houbara bustard, by using falcons, dogs, guns etc in the areas of Balochistan, Sindh and southern Punjab.
Consequently, a large number of vulnerable birds migrate from the astrious freezing regions of Siberia to Pakistan, India and the rest of the world.
For many in Pakistan, the bird namely houbara bustard has been emerging as a symbol of infirmity of the government.
If the government does want to tie close relations with the Arab states and to promote peace and Prosperity with the Arabs then a permanent ban will terribly be a big misconduct with the Arabs. To protect the bird the government has to form such projects that not only ban hunting completely but to help the bird be preserved as well. For instance, in 1980, trophy hunting was introduced to save the national animal of Pakistan, Markhor.
Generally, hunting permits for Markhor range was between the ranges of $50,000 to $100,000.
According to some figures compiled by the KP Wildlife Department that 80 percent generated in each permit is distributed to the local community, and the remaining 20 percent are spent for improving biodiversity and it must be noticed that the results are surprising, the number of Markhors have increased from 275 in the early 1990 to over 3,500 in 2015. Only imposing a permanent ban on hunting won’t protect the birds from extinction but instead a strict regulated system of sustainable hunting, is required under Pakistan’s international obligations.
We might have saved the bustards from completely dwindling from the country’s hills and deserts and every creature plays a part in the ecosystem.
Share your comments!
