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       LAHORE: A Bengal tigress which was being transported from Lahore to Multan by an animal dealer after buying it from a breeding farm in Lahore ran away into the fields from its cage near Multan in the wee hours of Sunday.

       The animal trader was identified as Muhammad Adnan.

       Punjab Wildlife Department Multan Deputy Director Sheikh Zahid told Dawn the tigress was being carried in a pick-up in a cage. As the vehicle reached Bosan Road on the mud track behind the Multan Public High School, the vehicle got stuck on the muddy track that was wet due to rain.

       As the vehicle jerked to get out of the mud, the cage got opened and the big cat escaped into the fields. The owner, Muhammad Adnan, called the police on 15 but the police told him to contact the wildlife department as they could help in this regard. Fear gripped the locals in the area as the news of a tigress loitering in the open spread among the residents.

       On the other hand, the furious tigress ran into fields and reportedly injured two persons, including a wildlife official. However, the injuries were stated to be mild. The Punjab Wildlife Department officials and a DHA Multan Zoo vet were involved in the operation to catch the tigress. The big cat was finally caught after tranquilisation done by a DHA Multan Zoo vet with his tranquiliser gun.

       Wildlife officials, private zoo vet catch the big cat after hours-long operation

       A fine of Rs221,000 was imposed on Adnan by the wildlife department under the Punjab Wildlife Act 1974. The tigress has been returned to the owner on payment of the fine, Mr Zahid said.

       Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department Director General Mudassar Riaz Malik said the wildlife officials took part in the rescue operation. To a question why tigers and lions had not yet been categorised in the Schedule 3 of the Punjab Wildlife Department, the DG said he had called a meeting on Monday (today) to set standards and regulate the issue of keeping tigers and lions in breeding farms and houses. “Such animals fall in Schedule 3 and it is prohibited to keep them domestically,” he added.

       The meeting would have representatives of the WWF-Pakistan as well.

       To the question if these animals were put in Schedule 3, what would happen to the private breeding farms having a huge number of lions and tigers, Mr Malik said it’s a crucial issue that would be discussed in the meeting besides all other aspects and possible licensing of such animals. To yet another question, Mr Malik said the meeting would also discuss either a new schedule or a new law.

       The wildlife DG said the Captive Wildlife Management Committee had got rules approved by the cabinet and new law would be introduced under these rules.

       According to some media reports, the age of Bengal tigress is about two years and its value is Rs5m to Rs6m.

       Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2024