PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wildlife department marked the World Wildlife Day across the province on Thursday.

According to an official statement, painting and essay competitions, tableaus and awareness walks were held by 27 wildlife divisions in settled and tribal districts.

People from different walks of life participated in the activities.

The department said the day was celebrated under the theme of ‘recovering key species for ecosystem restoration to draw attention to the conservation status of some of the most critically endangered species of wild fauna and flora and to drive discussions towards imagining and implementing solutions to conserve them’.

Our Kurram district correspondent adds: An awareness walk was organised in Parachinar area to mark the World Wildlife Day.

Elders, conservationists and officials of the district administration and wildlife department participated in the walk, which ended outside the press club building. Assistant commissioner Amir Nawaz led the walk.

Officials said the day was observed to sensitise people to the protection and conservation of wildlife.

On the occasion, sub-divisional forest officer Syed Ghayur Ali Shah said offices of the wildlife department had been set up in all three subdivisions of the Kurram tribal district.

He said the wildlife law was extended to the region after the merger of Fata with KP.

Mr Shah said ibexes, black partridges, snow leopards and other animal species in the region were under threat.

He said the wildlife department was taking tangible steps in collaboration with the local population for the protection and conservation of wildlife.

Social activist Ali Jawad expressed concern about the illegal hunting of animals in the district and said poachers threatened rare species. He demanded action against culprits and their abettors.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2022