Balochistan Forests and Wildlife Department has recovered at least 40 hunted Koonj birds (cranes) from the possession of two suspects during an operation in the Barkhan district.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, a team of the wildlife department stopped one passenger coach and a mini-truck at the forest check post of Barkhan and recovered 40 cranes, locally known as the koonj birds from the vehicles. The two suspects were also held in the operation.

 Barkhan Forests and Wildlife Department Director Zubair Kakar said that most of the recovered cranes died due to suffocation. 

He said that the accused were trying to transfer the cranes from Zhob to Punjab. 

Zubair Kakar said that poached cranes were shifted to Mian Ghundi National Park Quetta. 

The government has banned the hunting of demoiselle crane. 

Thousands of koonj birds migrate to Pakistan every year and there are mercilessly killed by hunters. Hunting of cranes is akin to their genocide. 

Koonj is a species of crane. Its scientific name is Grus Virgo. It’s the smallest among all crane species. These migratory birds travel long distances without landing for water or food.

In 2019, Balochistan’s Forest and Wildlife Department also recovered 29 koonj birds from three suspects during an operation near the Makran Coastal Highway near Lasbela.

The wildlife team received a tip-off that the birds were being smuggled to another city in a vehicle.