BADIN: The Sindh Wildlife Department arrested a local fisherman from the coastal village Boghra Memon on Tuesday and rescued 62 migratory birds that he had captured from one of the many lakes in the area.

At least three species of ducks were among those that were rescued. The wildlife department later released the ducks in an artificial lake in the area.

A case has been registered against the poacher, Allah Dinno Mallah

The waterfowl are among hundreds of thousands of migratory birds that make an annual pilgrimage in September/October. It starts from their home in Siberia to escape the unforgiving winter. Their search for moderate weather ends in India, but on their way they make stopovers at different lakes and water reservoirs in Pakistan, including Tanda Dam (Kohat) and Haleji, Keenjhar and Lungsee lakes.

About one million birds used to migrate from Siberia every year, including houbara bustards, cranes, teals, pintails, mallards, geese, spoon bills, waders and pelicans, using the Indus Flyway, also known as the International Migratory Bird Route Number 4, covering a distance of about 4,500km.

But now environmentalists are observing an alarming decrease in the number of migratory birds visiting Pakistan. They cite land reclamation, deforestation, climatic changes and human impact on biodiversity among the reasons.

Poachers also contribute to the disruption in the patters and numbers of migratory birds stopping over in Pakistan. They use nets spread over the lake at night along with echolocation to trap the birds.

A small duck can sell for anything between Rs250 to Rs500, while bigger ducks fetch up to Rs1,000.

According to Sindh wildlife laws, capture and sale of migratory birds is illegal. Hunting of waterfowl is allowed only during the hunting season from November till February after acquiring a hunting license.