THE WAY most of us treat animals is just deplorable. Man is just not friendly towards other beings. Humans consider themselves the owner of this planet. As its most intelligent beings they take for granted their position and behave in the worst possible manner when it comes to dealing with other beings in this world.
Many birds and animal species are experiencing population decline in Pakistan because of illegal hunting for sport, meat and trade. There is a strong tradition of hunting in the subcontinent and its impact has increased with the spread of modern weapons and greater means of mobility. Virtually all the large mammals have declined in number and their range has been reduced in our country.
The government has banned big-game hunting through regulations, except community-controlled areas with an existing limitation on exact kinds and numbers of species as well as countries they can be exported to. However, unabated illegal hunting is leading to the continuous loss, fragmentation and degradation of natural habitats that include forests, rangelands, and freshwater and marine ecosystem.
In 1975, the government enacted the Wildlife Conservation and Preservation Act, ratified the Convention of Biological Diversity, and in 1994 prepared a Biodiversity Action Plan. However, the inability of government to regulate legal hunting makes the preservation methods ineffective and increases the incentive for local people to hunt illegally.
Species threatened in Pakistan due to illegal trade include the Houbara Bustard, Snow Leopard, turtles, tortoises, snakes, other birds, and mammals like the Musk Deer.
ANIMAL TRADE:
The illegal trade in live animals and animal parts is second only to the drugs trade in value. While a brown bear cub might fetch anywhere between 1,000 to 5,000 US dollars, this easy profit is threatening the existence of many endangered species.
At least eighteen Asian countries are known to trade in bear parts. Bear parts are used for a series of traditional medicinal cures and bear bile is a highly demanded medicine. Bear bile is taken from the bear's gallbladder by a surgically inserted tube, while the bear is kept alive to continuously produce bile.
The capture of wild animals for the exotic animal and animal parts market is the single biggest threat to species such as tigers, bears, rhinoceroses, and elephants. Not only is this trade a threat to the biodiversity of this Earth, it is often inhumanely organised with unnecessary pain and waste involved.
As baby animals are usually in highest demand, especially in the live animal trade, breeding mothers will be shot first so the young can easily be taken.
Caught animals are transported in boxes and cages, usually with inadequate access to air and water. Birds will have their beaks taped shut while more dangerous animals might be declawed, physically abused or surgically altered to make transportation easier. Estimates range that between two/thirds to nine/tenths of animals being transported illegally die during transportation.
Wild animals do not last long in a captive state. They are not genetically disposed to being restricted and will become depressed. There are many documented cases of captive wild animals starving or hurting themselves, suffering bone deterioration due to stress and boredom. Ninety eight percent of all exotic animals die within the first two years of being brought home as pets.
WHAT CAN WE DO:
Conservation depends so much on responsible people knowing how to respect wildlife. The humane people have a responsibility to protect animals from hunters and their illegal traders.
We should petition the local Wildlife Department to ensure effective implementation of wildlife protection laws.
We should avoid buying products made from animals unless we know what the animal is, and where it came from. For example we should not purchase natural musk products and shahtoosh as these are collected by killing endangered species.
We should not support the use of animals as entertainment, especially bears, primates and large cats.
We should not hunt any animal unless it is a pest.
We should make a noise, educate others about the harmful effects of the animal trade before any more species are lost in the country.
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