LAHORE, Oct 04 (DNA): Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Sunday that Punjab was entering a new era of wildlife conservation in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, with strengthened enforcement, rescue services and modern healthcare facilities for wildlife across the province.

In her message on World Animal Day, she said the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department was reiterating its commitment to protecting wildlife and preserving the province’s natural heritage.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said Punjab was the first province to increase the strength of its Wildlife Rangers to 552, with women comprising 24 percent of the force. She said field operations and legal action against illegal hunting and wildlife crimes had also been intensified across the province. She said more than 15,000 wildlife challans had been issued and fines and compensation amounting to over Rs215 million had been recovered. During the last two years, she added, more than 50,000 birds, over 1,000 wild animals and 37 bears had been rescued from cruelty and distress, while more than 2,000 FIRs had been registered against illegal hunting and wildlife trade.

The senior minister said the province’s first state-of-the-art Wildlife Hospital had been established at Safari Zoo, providing modern diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation facilities for injured and distressed animals. The facility includes an operation theatre, CT scan, X-ray and laboratory sections, she added.

She said a mobile veterinary clinic was also providing specialized veterinary services in the field, enabling timely treatment, rehabilitation and emergency response for wildlife at safari parks, zoos and other facilities.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said a dedicated Wildlife Rescue Force, three modern rescue centres and helpline 1107 had been established in Lahore to strengthen wildlife rescue and protection services. She said 108 protected areas had been digitized and 920 GIS maps prepared under the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, while the province’s first-ever wildlife census had also been completed.

The senior minister said the Punjab Wildlife Department had established the Panjnad Indus Dolphin Sanctuary for the protection of dolphins. Amendments to the Wildlife Act and Big Cat Regulations had also strengthened legal protection for wildlife, including big cats, she added. She said Lahore Zoo, Safari Zoo and Changa Manga, along with other parks across the province, were being upgraded in line with international standards.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said animals were an integral part of the beauty, balance and survival of the planet, adding that their protection was not only the responsibility of the Wildlife Department but a collective moral responsibility of society. She said activities organized in connection with World Animal Day were bringing children and the public closer to wildlife and promoting awareness about animal welfare and the importance of protecting nature.

The senior minister said the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, would continue working to make the province a safe home not only for people but also for animals, and called upon citizens to pledge to treat animals with kindness and protect their natural habitats.