Change of rules will not help rare birds

SRINAGAR, January 4: Even after the much condemned hunting of birds in December and the assurance given by Union Minister Saifuddin Soz, the...

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SRINAGAR, January 4: Even after the much condemned hunting of birds in December and the assurance given by Union Minister Saifuddin Soz, the Jammu & Kashmir Government has chosen not to incorporate a blanket ban on hunting in the proposed amendments to its Wildlife Act.

Jammu and Kashmir Forests Minister Chaudhury Mohammad Ramzan said that the grant of discretionary licences for the shooting of certain species of migratory ducks and geese would continue to be allowed under the Jammu & Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act 1978. Union Forests and Environment Minister Soz had said on Wednesday that no hunting of birds would be allowed.

“The proposed amendments to the Act in the February Assembly session will impose a ban on the hunting of species on the brink of extinction like the Black-necked crane. But the grant of special shooting rights for ducks and geese could be allowed on certain occasions. Trade in shahtoosh wool would also be allowed,” Ramzan said.

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The green lobby was up in arms over the controversial two-day hunting by Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah’s guests in the first week of December at the Hokera reserve 20 km away from the state capital. It broke an eight-year moratorium on hunting in the state and saw more than 150 ducks and geese killed by eight hunters.

The guests of the chief minister included the erstwhile Nawab of Pataudi, Mansur Ali Khan and his wife Sharmila Tagore. They were granted licenses to shoot birds that are protected not only in Siberia, Europe and China but also in the rest of the country since 1990.