Statement regarding the hunting of 2100 Houbara Bustard in Chagai, Balochistan
WWF-Pakistan notes, and registers strong concern, about the recent news of hunting of 2100
Houbara Bustard by a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family and members of his hunting
party in and around Chaghai, Balochistan. The news item by veteran environmental journalist
Bhagwandas is based on a report titled ‘Visit of Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
regarding hunting of houbara bustard’ prepared by Jaffar Baloch, divisional forest officer of the
Balochistan forest and wildlife department, Chagai at Dalbandin. WWF-Pakistan is presently
working to acquire a copy of the report for further inspection and comment.
Chlamydotis undulata macqueeni, commonly known as Houbara Bustard, was previously a subspecies of Chlamydotis undulata, which is listed as “vulnerable” in the IUCN Red List. It is also
listed in CITES Appendix I, pertaining to species that are vulnerable to hunting and poaching
due to their economic value. Populations of the bird extend from Egypt east of the Nile through
Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, U.A.E., Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Syria,
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,
Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia to China, with unconfirmed reports from
Azerbaijan and Turkey (Collar, 1979; Goriup, 1997).
Large numbers of Houbara Bustard are illegally hunted and trapped, mainly in Pakistan and Iran,
and shipped to Arabia for use in training falcons to hunt (Combreau, 2007). Houbaras are also
hunted and killed for their meat. Habitat loss and degradation compound this problem (Goriup
1997; Snow and Perrins 1998, Combreau et al. 2001; Combreau et al. 2002). According to
Houbara Foundation International Pakistan, a non-profit organisation in Pakistan dedicated to
conservation of the Houbara Bustard in close collaboration with the UAE government, the
population of Houbara Bustard in Pakistan which was declining rapidly two decades ago has
stabilized in the last twenty years ever since. As an example conservation efforts started by
Houbara Foundation International Pakistan and Provincial wildlife department of Balochistan
have revealed positive trend in Nag Valley (Rashid.H 2003).
However, it must be highlighted that according to the Third Schedule of the Balochistan Wildlife
Act (1974), “all Bustards” from the family Otididae are listed as “Protected Animals; i.e.,
Animals which shall not be hunted, killed or captured.” WWF-Pakistan remains steadfastly
supportive of strictly implementing all provincial wildlife rules and laws, and an inclusionary
approach to maintaining populations of the birds both within and outside protected areas.
Keeping in view the threats faced by the species in its entire range in general and Pakistan in
particular, WWF–Pakistan, in order to sustainably manage the population, and reduce incidences
of illegal and excessive hunting by local and/or foreign hunters, proposes the following steps:
1.1.
Conservation of the Houbara and its habitat in the wild;
1.2.
Controlled hunting of the species can be done within the framework of species
conservation and benefit to local communities in the Houbara habitat;
1.3.
In order to determine the population status and trends of the species, WWF–Pakistan has
been advocating for undertaking population surveys on standard formats and protocols. This
should be conducted all over the country, on an annual basis. However, since the species is
migratory, country-wide census would not produce the desired results unless coordinated
population surveys are carried out across all the range states.
1.4.
During the hunting season, a framework should be developed in order to record the
number of birds killed in a specific area.
WWF–Pakistan feels that this is an essential
component because it helps in generating necessary information in order to show not only the
number of birds killed in each year from a specific area but the annual population estimates can
also support the sustainable use concept;
1.5.
As is the case with the protected areas, hunting in the breeding areas of Houbara Bustard
should not be allowed. These areas should also be either considered as restricted areas or
Houbara Bustard Reserves;
1.6.
WWF–Pakistan strongly recommends that the Foreign Office (Ministry of Foreign
Affairs) should coordinate with the senior representatives of the Federal Climate Change
Division for sharing relevant information before the allocation of hunting areas to foreign
dignitaries. This is important so that all the related stakeholders are on board and understand
their roles and responsibilities well, before the start of hunting seasons;
1.7.
WWF–Pakistan strongly believes in partnership with Houbara habitat communities being
the major stakeholders.
Houbara habitat communities can play an important role in the
protection and conservation of natural resources in their respective areas. Trophy hunting has
been considered a successful practice in Pakistan through which financial incentives are shared
with local communities for their efforts to conserve their unique biodiversity and respective
habitats. This results in both increase in wildlife populations, and improved socio-economic
conditions for local communities living in the area. A graph showing an increase in Chiltan
markhor population in Hazar Ganji National Park is attached (Annexure.I). Similar approaches
should also be practised in other regions for the benefit of communities as well as to achieve
conservation objectives. In this regard, Community Based Organisations should be formed in
the habitats of Houbara Bustard in Pakistan so that local communities are benefited through
sustainable use of the species and further play their role in the protection and conservation of this
species in their area;
1.8.
In order to streamline conservation of Houbara Bustard in the country, a Houbara Bustard
Conservation and Development Fund can be established at the national level. There has been
several initiatives of this kind already in practice e.g. Mountain Areas Conservation Fund and
Protected Areas Management Fund being managed with specific terms of references. The
proposed Fund should be used to undertake but not limited to the following major initiatives:
-
Annual population surveys on standard formats involving major stakeholders throughout
the country and presentation of population estimates
-
Development of District / Regional Conservation Action Plans – a requirement or an
essential obligation for the initiation of a sustainable use programme
-
Conservation awareness campaign regarding the sustainable use of Houbara Bustard
-
Training and capacity building of government staff and exchange visits
-
Livelihood improvement of the local communities living in Houbara Bustard habitats
-
Habitat improvement, as this is the foremost activity to sustain this Houbara Bustard
hunting on sustainable basis. Houbara Foundation’s Annual Aerial Seed Broadcast in partnership
with Pakistan Army is an example.
Population status of Chiltan Markhor In Hazar Ganji National Park
800
704
700
600
412
500
400
300
200
100
0
245
168
Year
Animals
1975
168
982
245
1989
412
2006
704