PESHAWAR:D.I.Khan Wildlife Department on Wednesday released one male and four female Hog Deers in breeding center set up under the Ten Billion Tree Plantation project.
The program was graced by Faisal Amin Khan Ganda Pur, Provincial Minister Khyber pakhtunkhwa and Dr Masood Arshad Makhdoom of WWF Pakistan.
Briefing the guests, DFO Wildlife D.I.Khan, Khan Malook highlighted the objectives of the Breeding center for reintroduction initiatives of the species.
This Breeding center has been established under 10 BTTP (Wildlife component) over an area of 150 kanal near Dera Darya Khan Bridge.
In the past hog deer was widely distributed in Kacha area situated along the Indus River due to favorable habitat.
However,due to increase in population coupled with new expending habitation, extensive cutting of riverine forest, increased cultivation, introduction of sophisticated weapons, conversion of wasteland into agriculture land, excessive hunting, poaching and lack of awareness the population of hog deer declined considerably and the species almost locally extinct in the province.
This Breeding center was an attempt to rehabilitate the hog deer in its previous nature habitat, Khan Malook added.
After successful breeding in captivity the same would be released in open areas for further propagation in the wild, he continued.