The Punjab Wildlife Department has intensified its crackdown on illegal wildlife trade and hunting, rescuing a pair of white lion cubs in Lahore, imposing fines on wildlife offenders, and halting an illegal partridge-fighting tournament during operations across the province.
A pair of white lion cubs were recovered from Lahore’s Kahna area and transferred them to the Safari Zoo.
According to a department spokesperson, authorities also took action against illegal wildlife trade and hunting in other parts of Punjab.
In Multan, a man involved in the illegal trade of exotic birds was fined Rs50,000. In Rajanpur, another suspect was arrested for the illegal hunting of doves and was fined Rs15,000 by the department.
The spokesperson said the department recovered a total of Rs65,000 in fines from two suspects during operations carried out in Lahore, Multan, and Rajanpur.
Meanwhile, in Mianwali, Wildlife Rangers intervened in time to stop an illegal partridge-fighting tournament, the spokesperson added.
Last year, the Punjab government imposed a complete ban on keeping lions, tigers, pumas, leopards, and jaguars in homes.
Special courts were established to hear cases related to wildlife offenses. Violators of the Wildlife Act could face fines ranging from Rs 100,000 to Rs 5 million, along with imprisonment for 5 to 7 years.
