Monitoring Desk
Threatened by unabated hunting spree and food shortages on the Indian side of international border, herds of Sambar, the wild species of deer family and blue bull (nilgai) have lately crossed into Pakistan.
According to English newspaper, Express Tribune, some of these ‘immigrants’ while finding a peaceful atmosphere at Lahore’s wildlife Jallo Park, have started breeding.
Sambar is found in abundance in northern Indian states of Rajasthan, Punjab and in the Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In line with their instinct to save their life , the animals enter Pakistan’s bordering districts of Kasur, Lahore and Sialkot before being caught by locals.
Once the locals inform the Punjab Wildlife Protection Department, a rescue team is immediately despatched to shift the animals to various zoos and wildlife parks in Lahore, the eastern city of Pakistan, located just 30 kilometres off international border, according to officials.
As per The Express Tribune report, eighteen Sambar deer have entered Pakistan so far. Of these, 12 have been kept at the Jallo Park. Four of them are males, while the remaining are females. Two fawns were also born a few weeks ago. One of the couples has been kept at the Lahore Safari Park for breeding purposes.
In December 2018 too, one Sambar deer had crossed into Pakistan’s bordering district of Narowal from Indian-Occupied Kashmir. It was also shifted to Lahore safari park.
