Pakistan - Endangered species

Despite the existence of laws against the hunting of endangered species, wildlife in Pakistan remains threatened. Turtles and tortoises, in particular, are both exported to China and sold to the Pakistani Chinese population. There are reports that a Pakistani turtle sells for more than $ 70 in Hong Kong and more than 200 turtles were found at Karachi airport last year. Yet, turtles are endangered all over the world, especially the Green Sea Turtles that live in the Arabian Sea and come to the shores of Sindh to lay their eggs. The Houbara Bustard, an endangered migratory bird, is hunted both by locals and foreign dignitaries, particularly those from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It is important to protect these species because the environment is already threatened in Pakistan because of urbanisation, climate change and pollution. Rehabilitating natural habitats and restoring the balance of the ecosystems is going to be a long and complicated process, particularly considering the level of urban creep and pollution in the cities and the threats to forests and marine and fresh water ecosystems. However, regulating hunting and implementing punishments on poachers and smugglers can rapidly ameliorate the condition of wildlife in Pakistan. There is not sufficient legislation to check the hunting, endangerment and export of threatened species and the legislation that exists is not efficiently implemented.
Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah Khan expressed concern at a meeting in his ministry that “wildlife smuggling has significantly escalated in recent years”. The Climate Change Minister stressed the importance of legislation in curbing wildlife smuggling. Given the sorry state of Pakistan’s environment, it is certainly encouraging to see lawmakers pay attention to this issue. Pakistan is one of the few countries in the world that has not yet adapted to climate change. While more holistic measures need to be taken to make the lifestyles of the people of the country as a whole more sustainable, to stop the further depletion of the forests and to find a solution to the water crisis, the passing and implementation of relevant environmental legislation can go a long way. For example, systems and institutions for the proper collection and disposal of waste can help prevent domestic and industrial waste from ending up in the habitats of threatened animals, green belts and water bodies. Recycling should also be promoted to reduce the mountain of waste. There are several marine, fresh water and terrestrial species that are endangered and wildlife reserves can be made to protect them. The wildlife and biodiversity of Pakistan are assets that should be protected for long term environmental benefits, not commodities to be sold for a profit.