LAHORE:
The trend of breeding wild animals, especially big cats, is increasing among common people in the city, while wildlife breeding centers built in urban settlements are also becoming a major source of threat to the public.
An African lion was shot dead in the Harbanspura area of Lahore. The African lion had escaped from an illegal breeding facility built in the urban area and was shot dead by the breeding security guard. Earlier, a female leopard was shot dead on Bedian Road after entering a private farm.
During the investigation it came to light that the female leopard had escaped a few days before being killed from a private wild animal breeding farm located in the Kahna area. Fortunately, there were no reports of any human harm from these dangerous animals, but the news of their escape from breeding farms definitely caused panic among the locals.
There are currently 26 registered wildlife breeding farms in Lahore, while the number of illegal breeding farms may double. Most wildlife breeding farms are places where lions and tigers are kept. According to Punjab Wildlife officials, some other big cats, including lions and tigers, which are not found in the wild of Punjab, are not included in the Wildlife Act, so legal action cannot be taken against them. Apart from this, the department can investigate where the person bought the line or the tiger from.
According to the Private Wildlife Breeding Farm Rules, 2016, enacted under the Punjab Wildlife Act, 1974, wild bird and wildlife breeding farms can be constructed. For poultry breeding farm, there must be at least four area channels, while for wildlife breeding farm it is necessary to have at least 10 channels.
It will be necessary to prove ownership of the place or a lease contract of at least 10 years for the breeding farm. However, the Wildlife Breeding Farm Rules 2016 do not specify in which area the breeding farm will be built.
Animal rights activist Ayeza Haider opined that wild animal breeding farms should not be allowed near urban settlements. “No matter how strong the cages are, nearby residents live in fear of the roars of these animals, which can flee at any moment.
Citizens buy animals from these breeding farms and try to domesticate them in their homes. Putting a chain around the neck of tigers and keeping them in cages is not love but cruelty,” discouraged Haider, who further stated that Punjab Wildlife needs to review and implement the existing laws in this regard.
The National Council for Wildlife Conservation (NCCW) has established rules and regulations for private wildlife breeding farms, according to which it is necessary to specify the purpose, facilities, master plan, budget, care of the animals and the educational program to create a private zoo. wildlife breeding farm.
The NCCW instructs the concerned provincial wildlife department to constitute a committee to verify the documents submitted about the breeding farm or zoo and review the facilities.
Wildlife biologist and WWF representative Dr Uzma Khan said: “In light of the NCCW guidelines for breeding big cats, the minimum limit of enclosure size and open area has been fixed for these animals.
Apart from this, it is also decided that public safety will be taken into account. Keeping big cats near urban settlements can become a public safety problem, so it is not allowed. “People who have had big cats are breaking the law,” he said.
