Several deer dragged by the waters of floods in all districts in Punjab were rescued by Punjab Wildlife Rangers, authorities said on Saturday.
The Punjab Wildlife Department launched an emergency operation in the directives of Punjab Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz, to save animals in the districts affected by floods. Specialized ambulances, veterinary doctors and temporary camps have been deployed to treat injured wildlife.
According to the additional Rangers of the Director General of Punjab, Syed Kamran Bukhari, a couple of deer were rescued in Sialkot on August 26. In Nareowal, a wounded and pregnant female received medical treatment, while a young man moved to security in Shakargarh. Additional bailouts in Muridke, Wazirabad and Mandi Bahauddin brought the total number to seven.
Read: No respite in Punjab, since sudden floods claim at least 28 lives
Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurengzeb said that the Government considers that animal life “as precious as human life”, added that floods often leave wild life among the most affected.
Experts warn that recent floods have destroyed not only households and crops, but also wildlife habitats, leaving animals without refuge or food. They warn that without timely intervention, species such as deer and other rare people in wildlife face a high risk.
Punjab floods
The high floods in the three main rivers of Punjab, Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej, have charged at least 28 lives and huge sections of farmland, after heavy rains and excessive release of water from India.
The Sutlej River in Ganda Singh Wala has increased more than 350,000 CUSECs, the heaviest flow since 1955, which caused evacuations in Kasur and contiguous districts. Authorities warn that the situation can get worse with more rain and possible discharges upstream.
The Chenab River is also swelling dangerously, with 855,000 Cusecs registered in Chinast Bridge, threatening dozens of downstream towns. In fine, the river has submerged cultivation lands in Shujaabad, with the authorities that prepare controlled infractions to protect urban areas.
Meanwhile, the Ravi in the Shahdara Point de Lahore reached 220,000 Cusecs, its highest level since 1988, immersing several housing societies and forcing mass evacuations. Help camps for displaced families of refuge have been established.
Earlier this week, together with human evacuations, more than 148,000 cattle were transferred to safer areas, with 234 treatment fields with established animals to provide medical support.
The Punjab Help Commissioner, Nabeel Javed, said that a rape was made in the Rra-1 embankment to divert the water and protect the city of Kasur. Water levels are increasing in the heads of Sulemanki and Balloki, while the flows in Shahdara have begun to retreat. In Jhang, the Jhang -Shorkot Road and Riwaz Bridge sections were deliberately raped to reduce pressure, diverting the waters of floods away from populated areas.
Pakistan’s department of Meteorology warned of “exceptionally high flood levels” in Sutlej and Chenab between August 30 and September 2, with the Indo in Guddu and Sukkur, very high flood levels are expected to reach very high flood levels in the next few days.
