By Rafiullah Mandokhail
ZHOB: The district administration of Zhob, taking action against the illegal hunting of migratory birds has destroyed several hunting camps in different parts of the district here on Thursday.
The team comprising Additional Deputy Commissioner Qasim Kakar, Assistant Commissioner Wahab Nasar, in charge Dolphin Force of Levies Fazal Shah Mandokhail and Levies personal raided along Zhob River and destroyed several hunting camps but no arrest has been made so for. The action has been taken against the illegal hunting camps set up along Zhob River before the migratory bird cranes returning back from India and pass through the valley.
Zhob valley falls on the international migration corridor of Siberian migratory birds. Twice every year thousands of cranes congregate near the river that flows in a few kilometers of the city and fells into the Gomal River. The bank of the river is an important stopover on the cranes’ long migration route from and to Siberian cold and snowy forests. Before the birds arrive in the valley, the poachers set up their hunting camps to trap the guest birds.
According to the officials at Forest and Wildlife department, the Domicile cranes known as Anthropoides Virgo pass through Zhob. In recent years, the cranes have been ruthlessly trapped, that is why the population of cranes has been dwindled.
Extremely chilly weather in Siberian forests compels the precious birds to fly and access to a moderate weather. These ‘ambassadors of peace’ know no boundaries; their flocks fly across the rivers, mountains and deserts to get their destination. Their perilous journey starts from Siberia in September-October and after spending winter by the end of March-April, the cranes fly back to their native habitats. They make stopovers at lakes, river banks and water basins in many parts of the country. The migration of Siberian cranes heralds the arrival of spring here in Zhob valley that falls on the international migration corridor of Siberian cranes.