Punjab Wildlife Rangers have rescued two orphaned Nilgai (blue bull) calves from Haroonabad, near the Bahawalnagar border, after they were separated from their mother during the recent floods.
The calves have been relocated to the Bahawalnagar Zoo, where they are being bottle-fed and given special veterinary care.
Wildlife officials said rescue and relief operations are ongoing across flood-affected regions to safeguard vulnerable species. So far, eight deer have been saved and shifted to medical camps for treatment. On August 26, two deer carried across the border into Sialkot by floodwaters were retrieved, while on August 27, a pregnant and injured deer was treated in Narowal. Another fawn was rescued in Shakargarh, and operations in Muridke, Wazirabad, and Mandi Bahauddin led to the safe recovery of five more deer.
Earlier in Lahore, six lions trapped at a farmhouse along the Ravi near Multan Road were also rescued and moved to safety, where they are receiving veterinary supervision.
Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb commended the teams for risking their lives to protect wildlife, noting that such efforts set a “remarkable example” of service during challenging times. She emphasized that the Punjab government prioritizes animal welfare and will “not abandon any living being in moments of crisis.”
Meanwhile, Punjab Wildlife Rangers have intensified crackdowns on illegal hunting and bird trapping. Confiscated equipment, challans against dozens of offenders, and fines worth millions of rupees have been reported from Bahawalnagar, Jhelum, Chakwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Bhakkar.