BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): Wildlife hunting has been brought down to zero in central Bamyan province, but environmentalists claim rare birds and other animals are still being hunted.
Mohammad Ibrahim Dadfar, environment protection director, told Pajhwok Afghan News the province was considered one of the largest sources of wildlife and natural resources in Afghanistan.
Findings of the department suggested Bamyan was home to different types of wolves, foxes, rare Persian tigers, fish and birds, Dadfar said.
Efforts to protect wildlife had caused led to the protection of rare animals in Bamyan, the director claimed.
He added no illegal attempts at wildlife hunting in the province had been reported this year.
In the previous year, the department registered 12 attempts at unlawful hunting. A dozen individual were arrested for hunting 50 types of rare birds, gazelles, wolves and foxes.
Despite official assertions, some environmental activists remain concerned about the secret hunting of rare birds and animals.
Nadir Karimi, one of environmental activists, said although officials were doing their bit to protect rare birds and animals, some residents and smugglers were still trying to hunt wildlife.
Karimi insisted fish and gazelles continued to be hunted in different seasons. Local hunters purchased vultures and smuggled them abroad. He maintained.
Activists said the hunting of native and wildlife was more rooted in the low level of literacy, lack of awareness among residents and economic factors.
Abdul Hameed Hussaini, another environmentalist, underlined the need for a regular awareness drive through media and other organisations to minimise the consequences of illegal hunting.
He noted some individuals hunted threatened species just for the fun of it, little realising that their actions could create serious problems for future generations.
But Mohammad Khwani Rasa, police spokesman, wildlife hunting had been banned by the IEA supreme leader. He vowed to prosecute perpetrators.
To prevent the illegal hunting and smuggling of wildlife, security personnel conducted round-the-clock patrols across the province, Rasa concluded.
aw/mud
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