The Punjab government has introduced major amendments to the Punjab Wildlife Act, increasing penalties for illegal hunting, trade, and harm to wild animals.
The new law requires offenders to pay departmental compensation for hunted species and imposes heavy fines on vehicles, weapons, and equipment used in the crime.
Under the revised act, fines now range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 million, depending on the nature of the offense and whether it was committed on foot or with vehicles.
Vehicles, motorcycles, guns, and nets used in illegal hunting will be confiscated as case property.
Fixed fines include Rs500,000 for a vehicle, Rs100,000 for a motorcycle, and Rs25,000 for a bicycle, with separate penalties for local and foreign-made firearms.
Punjab Additional Chief Wildlife Ranger Syed Kamran Bukhari explained that the amendments aim to curb activities that have endangered wildlife for decades. He said previous fines were so low that offenders would simply pay and return to hunting.
Now, wildlife officers have the same powers as police under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), allowing them to take independent legal action.
However, wildlife expert and former honorary game warden Badr Munir criticized the amendments. He argued that the new law focuses more on penalties and departmental powers than on ecological conservation, species rehabilitation, or community-based management.
Munir pointed out that the fines are not balanced, with much lower penalties for netting multiple birds compared to hunting with firearms and vehicles. He also criticized the abolition of the Honorary Game Warden system, warning that community involvement in conservation will weaken as a result.
Despite these concerns, the government maintains that the new penalties and enforcement powers are necessary to protect Punjab’s wildlife and deter repeat offenders.
