Role of Rescue 1122 in Wildlife Welfare in Punjab, Pakistan

Home , Attock, Bahawalpur, Chiniot, Enhydris, Eryx johnii, Faisalabad

Journal of Bioresource Management

Volume 7 Issue 2 Article 3

Muhammad Sajid Rana Institute of Natural and Management Sciences (INAM), Rawalpindi, Pakistan, [email protected]

Fakhar -i-Abbas Center for Bioresource Research (CBR), Islamabad, Pakistan

Fakhra Nazir Institute of Natural and Management Sciences (INAM), Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Kainaat William Bioresource Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan

Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/jbm

Part of the Other Animal Sciences Commons, and the Social Welfare Commons

Recommended Citation Rana, M. S., -i-Abbas, F., Nazir, F., & William, K. (2020). Role of Rescue 1122 in Wildlife Welfare in Punjab, Pakistan, Journal of Bioresource Management, 7 (2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.35691/JBM.0202.0128 ISSN: 2309-3854 online (Received: May 7, 2020; Accepted: May 12, 2020; Published: Jun 1, 2020)

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Bioresource Management by an authorized editor of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Role of Rescue 1122 in Wildlife Welfare in Punjab, Pakistan

© Copyrights of all the papers published in Journal of Bioresource Management are with its publisher, Center for Bioresource Research (CBR) Islamabad, Pakistan. This permits anyone to copy, redistribute, remix, transmit and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes provided the original work and source is appropriately cited. Journal of Bioresource Management does not grant you any other rights in relation to this website or the material on this website. In other words, all other rights are reserved. For the avoidance of doubt, you must not adapt, edit, change, transform, publish, republish, distribute, redistribute, broadcast, rebroadcast or show or play in public this website or the material on this website (in any form or media) without appropriately and conspicuously citing the original work and source or Journal of Bioresource Management’s prior written permission.

This article is available in Journal of Bioresource Management: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/jbm/vol7/ iss2/3 Sajid et al. (2020). Role of Rescue 1122 in Wildlife Welfare J Biores Manag. 7 (2): 19-28

ROLE OF RESCUE 1122 IN WILDLIFE WELFARE IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN MUHAMMAD SAJID1*, FAKHAR-I-ABBAS2, FAKHRA NAZIR1 AND KAINAAT WILLIAM3 1Institute of Natural and Management Sciences (INAM), Rawalpindi 2Center for Bioresource Research, Islamabad, Pakistan 3Bioresource Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT Rescue 1122 emergency services in Punjab (Pakistan) also responds to calls when residents feel threatened from wild animals. Emergency calls received between August 2015 and July 2016 recorded 16 arthropod, 25 mammal, 156 bird, 816 reptile and 264 un-identified cases from different parts of the Punjab, which were safely handled and in majority of cases animals were safely released back in nature. Keywords: Emergency service, snakes, birds, wild animals, Punjab

INTRODUCTION Current study was designed using Rescue 1122 is a public sector participatory multi-technique approach department started in 2004 under the Punjab following Lynam et al. (2007). This included Emergency Service Act 2006 for saving of analysis of policies, relevant reports and human life and property in situations of legislation, interview of locals/ villagers and emergencies, including accidents, bomb mapping instances of human-wildlife conflict blast, fire, floods, medical emergencies and in districts of Punjab (Pakistan), mainly rescue people facing threat of wild animal focusing on poisonous and non-poisonous attacks. In the absence of specific snakes. Conflicts of different wild animals organization/department responsible for with human beings were also investigated. resolving human-wildlife conflict and MATERIALS AND METHOD welfare of wild animals, the animals entering human settlements/dwellings are rescued by Data collection this department. Thus, Rescue 1122 not only saves the life of human beings but also plays Rescue 1122 Control Rooms located a role in rescue and conservation of animal at different district headquarters were visited biodiversity. Rescue 1122 centers are located and record of emergencies received between in each major town of the province, at least August 2015 and July 2016 examined. When one in every tehsil headquarter (Rescue1122, the rescue unit receives a call, information on n.d.). the nature and place of emergency was Wild animals entering urban areas recorded on “Emergency Response Form” may react in an unpredictable way, posing (Figure 1). Copies of the forms involving danger to human life and property. Rescue wild animals were collected from the office 1122 staff tries to capture the wild animals, in-charge of the Control Room (CRI) and the without harming or killing them and release official attending the emergency was them into their natural habitat, though the interviewed. Photographs was obtained from staff is not properly trained in animal the audio-video camera (AVC) records and capturing and handling and is without proper used in identification of the animal species handling gadgets. (Figure 2).

Sajid et al. (2020). Role of Rescue 1122 in Wildlife Welfare J Biores Manag. 7 (2): 19-28

RESULTS Arthropods

A total of 16 (1%) cases of arthropods were reported from Rawalpindi and Khushab districts, including7 honey bee (6 in Rawalpindi and one in Khushab), 5 scorpion, and 3 wasp attacks. One case of centipede was reported from a house (Figure 3).

Figure 1. Emergency response form of Rescue 1122

Figure 3: Number of cases of arthropods reported in two districts of Punjab, Pakistan. Mammals Centers received 25 cases of mammal from three districts, viz., Rawalpindi, Lahore and Khushab. Monkey attacks were reported

in 8 cases, including 3 of Rhesus Figure 2. Rescue staff holding an Indian rock monkey (Macaca mulatta) in Rawalpindi. python from Rawalpindi. Four cases of unidentified monkey attacks in Lahore and one in Khushab were also Data analysis reported. Mongoose appeared in 11 cases; 3 Data was analyzed for each district. from Rawalpindi, one in Lahore and 7 in Mean and standard error were calculated Faisalabad. using Mini-Tab statistical software. Four cases of wild cats were reported in Rawalpindi and two domestic cats were reported in Lahore. In most of the cases, these cats were entangled with electric wires and

other high roof top buildings, when people called 1122 for a rescue (Figure 4).

Sajid et al. (2020). Role of Rescue 1122 in Wildlife Welfare J Biores Manag. 7 (2): 19-28

Birds Birds (n=156, 12%) were reported from 20 districts of Punjab, viz., Rawalpindi, Khanewal, Lahore, Hafiz Abad, Mianwali, Bhakhar, Sheikhupura, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Multan, Khushab, Faisalabad, Jhelum, Bahawalnagar, Narowal, Lodhran, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Jhang and Gujrat (Figure 5). Four cases of eagles were reported, 3 in Gujranwala and one in Hafizabad. Three cases of parrots and 4 cases of black-shoulder kite were reported in Rawalpindi and Khanewal, respectively. House crow cases were reported in the highest numbers (29) in Figure 4. Cases of mammals reported from the four Sargodha, followed by Faisalabad (13) and districts of Punjab, Pakistan. Rawalpindi (10). One case of dove was reported in Rawalpindi only. Kite (17 cases)

was reported from Faisalabad only. Highest number (11) of un-identified bird cases were reported in Khanewal followed by 7 cases reported in Lahore.

Figure 5. Number of cases of birds reported with Rescue 1122 in different districts of Punjab, Pakistan during study period.

Sajid et al. (2020). Role of Rescue 1122 in Wildlife Welfare J Biores Manag. 7 (2): 19-28

Reptiles of Chameleon was reported in Hafiz Abad only, while 11 cases of iguana were reported Reptiles invited the attention in 23 in Lahore (Figure 7)., and 746 cases of snakes districts, viz. Hafiz Abad, Lahore, from various districts of Punjab (Figure 6; Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Khanewal, Mianwali, Table 1). Narowal, Sheikhupura, Jhang, Lodhran, Chakwal, Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad, Bahawalnagar, Bhakhar, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Layyah, Rajanpur, Khushab, Muzaffargarh, Gujrat and Multan with 816 (64%) reported cases. The highest number (100) of cases were reported in Sargodha, followed by Gujrat (99) and Multan (87) and the lowest numbers (3) reported in Layyah. Thirteen lizard cases were reported in Lahore and Gujranwala districts. In other districts, fewer cases were reported. Big lizard (Varanus spp.) was reported in highest number from Rawalpindi, followed by Hafiz Figure 6. Number of cases of snakes reported in Abad (3) and Faisalabad (2), while one case different districts of Punjab, Pakistan. each in Lodhran and Khanewal. A single case

Figure 7. Cases of reptiles reported from the selected districts of Punjab, Pakistan.

Sajid et al. (2020). Role of Rescue 1122 in Wildlife Welfare J Biores Manag. 7 (2): 19-28

Table 1. List of snake species found in different districts of Punjab

# Species Districts of Case Reported Poisonous/ Family Area Type (Common name) Non-Poisonous

1 Eryx conicus Bahawalpur, Jhang, Non-poisonous Boidae Sand Common Sand boa Bahawalnagar, Mianwali, Khushab, Rahim Yar Khan 2 Eryx johnii Mianwali, Khushab, Jhang Non-poisonous Boidae Sand Brown Sand Boa 3 Eryx tataricus Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Non-poisonous Boidae Sand (Tartary Sand Boa) Rahim Yar Khan, Mianwali, Jhang 4 Python molurus Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Non-poisonous Boidae All Type (Indian Python) Khushab, Chakwal, 5 Amphiesma Rawalpindi, Attock, Non-poisonous Colubridae Mountain platyceps Chakwal, Jhelum, Faisalabad (Himalayan Mountain Keel- back) 6 Amphiesma Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Non-poisonous Colubridae Agriculture sieboldii Pakpattan, Mandi Bahauddin Siebold’s Keel-back or Sikkim’s Keel- back 7 Boiga trigonata All districts of Punjab Non-poisonous Colubridae All Type Common Cat-Snake

8 Dendrelaphis tristis Rawalpindi, Narrowal, Non-poisonous Colubridae Mountain Common Bronze- Sialkot, Sahiwal, Okara, Dera back Tree Snake Ghazi Khan, Lodhran, Mandi (tree snake) Bahauddin, 9 Enhydris Khushab, Sargodha, Gujrat, Non-poisonous Colubridae Rivers pakistanica Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Pakistan’s Water Okara, Nankana Sahib, snake or Sindhi Sheikhupura, Hafiz Abad, Ditch Snake Bahawalnagar, Kasur, (water snake) Lodhran, Layyah, Lahore, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Sialkot, Vehari, Toba Tek Singh. 10 Hemorrhois Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Non-poisonous Colubridae Mountain ravergieri Jhelum, Attock, Rajanpur Mountain Racer 11 Lycodon aulicus Chiniot, Faisalabad, Hafiz Non-poisonous Colubridae Soft Land Common Wolf Abad, Kasur, Lahore, Snake Lodhran, Narowal, Okara, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Sialkot 12 Lycodon striatus Gujrat, Bahawalpur, Non-poisonous Colubridae Semi Desert Northern Barred Bhakhar, Khanewal, Wolf Snake Khushab, Jhang, Layyah, Mianwali.

Sajid et al. (2020). Role of Rescue 1122 in Wildlife Welfare J Biores Manag. 7 (2): 19-28

13 Lycodon Attock, Bahawalnagar, Non-poisonous Colubridae Forest travancoricus Chakwal, Chiniot, D.G. Travancore Wolf Khan, Faisalabad, Snake Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafiz Abad, Jhelum, Lahore, Kasur, Multan, Narowal, Pakpattan, Okara, Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, Sargodha. 14 Lytorhynchus Rahim Yar Khan, Bhakhar, Non-poisonous Colubridae Semi Desert maynardi Jhang Maynard’s Awl- headed Sand Snake 15 Lytorhynchus Bhakhar, Jhang, Rawalpindi, Non-poisonous Colubridae Margin of paradoxus Chakwal Desert Sind Awl-headed Sand Snake 16 Natrix tessellata All districts of Punjab Non-poisonous Colubridae All Type Dice Snake 17 Oligodon arnensis Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, Sialkot. Non-poisonous Colubridae Forest Russet Kukri Snake 18 Oligodon Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Non-poisonous Colubridae Rivers taeniolatus Khan Lodhran, Mandi Streaked Kukri Bahauddin, Multan, Snake Muzaffargarh, Sahiwal, Sialkot. 19 Platyceps Bahawalpur Non-poisonous Colubridae Mountain rhodorachis Kashmir Cliff Racer 20 Platyceps All districts of Punjab Non-poisonous Colubridae Urban Area ventromaculatus Sindhi Racer Bengal 21 Psammophis Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Non-poisonous Colubridae Sand condanarus Bhakhar, Jhang, Khanewal, Sand Snake Khushab, Layyah, Mianwali, Rahim YarKhan, 22 Psammophis Bahawalpur, Bhakhar, Non-poisonous Colubridae Sand lineolatus Mianwali, Bahawalnagar, Steppe Ribbon Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang. Snake 23 Psammophis Mianwali, Khushab, Rahim Non-poisonous Colubridae Sand schokari Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Afro-Asian Sand Bhakhar. Snake 24 Pseudocyclophispers Mianwali, Khushab, Rahim Non-poisonous Colubridae Mountain icus Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Dark-headed Dwarf Bhakhar. Racer 25 Sibynophis All districts of Punjab Non-poisonous Colubridae All Type sagittarius Golden Snake 26 Spalerosophis Gujarati, Gujranwala, Non-poisonous Colubridae Agriculture atriceps Sialkot, Vehari. Black-headed Royal Snake

Sajid et al. (2020). Role of Rescue 1122 in Wildlife Welfare J Biores Manag. 7 (2): 19-28

27 Spalerosophis Bahawalpur Non-poisonous Colubridae Desert diadema Eastern Diadem Snake 28 Telescopus Bahawalpur Non-poisonous Colubridae Desert rhinopoma Desert Cat-Snake 29 Xenochrophisceraso Vehari, Toba Tek Singh, Non-poisonous Colubridae Plain Areas gaster Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Dark-bellied Marsh Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara, Snake or Painted Gujranwala, Gujrat, Kasur, Keel-back Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Lodhran 30 Xenochrophis Bahawalnagar, D.G Khan, Non-poisonous Colubridae Plain areas piscator Lodhran, Multan, with sandy Checkered Keel- Muzaffargarh, Okara, areas back or Asiatic Sahiwal, Sialkot water Snake 31 Xenochrophiss Rawalpindi Non-poisonous Colubridae Mountain anctijohannis St. John’s Keel-back 32 Bungarus sind anus All districts of Punjab Poisonous Elapidae Plain Areas North-western Punjab Krait Sindhi Krait 33 Naja naja Rawalpindi Poisonous Elapidae Mountain Indian Cobra 34 Astrotia stokesii All Punjab Poisonous Hydrophiidae Plain Areas Large-headed Sea Snake 35 Microcephalophis Jhelum, Gujrat, Mianwali, Poisonous Hydrophiidae Plain Areas cantoris Chakwal and Rawalpindi. Cantor’s Sea Snake 36 Myriopholis All districts of Punjab Non-poisonous Leptotyphlopi Plain Areas macrorhyncha dae Large-beaked Thread Snake 37 Ramphotyphlopsbra All districts of Punjab Non-poisonous Typhlopidae Plain Areas minus Brahminy Blind Snake 38 Typhlops diardii All districts of Punjab Non-poisonous Typhlopidae Plain Areas Kashmir Blind Snake 39 Typhlops Rahim Yar Khan, Layyah, Non-poisonous Typhlopidae Desert ductuliformes Khanewal, Bhakhar, Slender Blind Snake 40 Typhlops porrectus Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Non-poisonous Typhlopidae Desert Slender Worm Bhakhar, Mianwali, Jhang, Snake Khanewal, Khushab, Layyah, Rahim Yar Khan 41 Daboia russelii All districts of Punjab Poisonous Viperidae Desert and Russell’s Chain Sandy areas Viper

Sajid et al. (2020). Role of Rescue 1122 in Wildlife Welfare J Biores Manag. 7 (2): 19-28

42 Echis carinatus Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Poisonous Viperidae Plain Areas Dark-blotched Saw- Gujrat, Hafiz Abad, Kasur, scaled Viper Lahore, Lodhran, Multan, Okara, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Vehari. 43 Pseudocerastes Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Poisonous Viperidae Mountainous persicus Attock. Persian Horned Viper

UN-IDENTIFIED ANIMALS Number of cases of animal rescue reported with Rescue 1122 are not directly A total of 264 (21%) un-identified animals related to species abundance, level of wild were reported in 112 cases in Khanewal of animal invasion into human settlements which 10 were birds; 103 cases in and/or level of human reaction to wild Bahawalpur and only one in Khushab. One animals. The service is mainly limited to case of ‘Dod’ (local name) and one case of towns and hence is not concerned with ‘Sro’ (local name) was reported in Khanewal occurrence of such incidences in smaller and 7 in Khushab. Sufficient information was towns/villages. Since major part of the not available whereby the species could had human population is not aware of possible been identified. services of Rescue 1122 with regards to animal threat therefore at many occasions; people mostly handling the situation on their own. It is at rare occasions that the cases are reported to Rescue 1122, only when individual feel threatened, and especially when there is no adult male around. Calling Rescue 1122 is caused by the lack of general public awareness about animal role in nature and its potentials of harming human, general perception of fear. Higher number of snake cases reported was indicative of general fear of masses about these animals though 7 of 43 species reported from Punjab (Pakistan) are poisonous to

human. Look of porcupines creates fear Figure 9: Relative frequency (%) of wildife rescue though it does not attack man if left cases reported with Resue 1122 in Punjab, undisturbed. Scorpion, centipede/ millipedes, Pakistan during study period. rats, wasp and bees, lizards, mongoose, bats, DISCUSSION etc. are generally not reported to Rescue 1122 for their having a lower degree of fear in Rescue 1122 provides emergency human populations. help to save human life and property, In the absence of proper training, the including emergencies caused by animals. staff of Rescue 1122 training tries to Rescue 1122 concerns with safe capturing of control/ease out the situation; trying to cause wild animals coming into urban areas and minimum damage to the animal and finding a returning them into their natural habitat. suitable habitat for its safe release, keeping to

Sajid et al. (2020). Role of Rescue 1122 in Wildlife Welfare J Biores Manag. 7 (2): 19-28 their person experiences/knowledge. In the Da Silva SL (2017). Snake venom absence of professional knowledge about peptides and low mass proteins: animals and/or their habit/habitat, it is molecular tools and therapeutic difficult for them to identify a species and agents. Curr Med Chem., 24 (30): may adopt wrong practices in 3254-3282. doi: controlling/capturing and/or release of these 10.2174/0929867323666161028155 animals. It may sometimes be a dangerous for 611. the life of the rescue workers. Apt staff Anthony BP (2007). The dual nature of training may help in proper analysis of the parks: attitudes of neighbouring situation and rightful handling of the animals, communities towards Kruger while maintaining safety of the workers. This National Park, South Africa. Env may also be useful in safeguarding some Cons., 34 (3): 236-245. threatened/vulnerable species needing Bisi, J. and Kurki, S. (2008). The Wolf special care. Discourse in Finland: Provincial and The present results suggest that National Expectations and Objectives although Rescue 1122 is not basically for the Management of the Finnish designed to rescue wild animals yet it Wolf Population. Ruralia Institute, provides useful service in animal University of Helsinki. Retrieved rescue/safety/rehabilitation. This is also a from: concern of animal welfare. Various http://128.214.67.123/ruralia/julkaisu conservation programs have been launched t/pdf/Publications12.pdf. for the survival of noteworthy species to Kaswamila A, Russell S and McGibbon M balance the natural ecosystem and training (2007). Impacts of Wildlife on Rescue staff may be helpful in success of Household Food Security and Income such programs. in Northeastern Tanzania. Human Dimen Wild., 12 (6): 391-404. CONCLUSION Khan MS (1993). In: Snakes of Pakistan. Urdu Science Board, Lahore: pp. 229. The current study suggests that Lynam DR, Caspi A, Moffitt TE, Loeber R Rescue 1122 is performing a useful role in and Stouthamer-Loeber M (2007). safeguarding the wild animals trapped in the Longitudinal evidence that urban environment, apart from ensuring the psychopathy scores in early public safety. The rescue staff is however not adolescence predict adult suitably trained for the purpose; which is a psychopathy. J Abn Psy., 116: 155- security risk for the rescue staff and the 165. animal rescued. The rescue staff needs better Rescue1122 (n.d.). Punjab emergency training in wildlife rescue and release and the Service. Retrieved from: local community needs to be aware of the www.rescue1122.gov.pk fuller potentials of Rescue 1122. Statham M and Statham HL (1997). Movements and habits of brushtail REFERENCES possums (Trichosurus vulpecula kerr.) in an urban area. Wild Res., 24: Almeida JR, Resende LM, Watanabe RK, 715-726. Carregari VC, Huancahuire-Vega S, Uzair B, Bushra R, Khan BA, Zareen S and da S Caldeira CA, Coutinho-Neto A, Fasim F (2018). Potential uses of Soares AM, Vale N, de C Gomes PA, venom proteins in treatment of HIV. Marangoni S, de A Calderon L and

Sajid et al. (2020). Role of Rescue 1122 in Wildlife Welfare J Biores Manag. 7 (2): 19-28

Protein Pept Lett., 25 (7): 619-625. Woodroffe R (2000). Predators and people: doi: using human densities to interpret 10.2174/0929866525666180628161 declines of large carnivores. Ani 107. Cons., 3: 165-173. Vyas VK, Brahmbhatt K, Bhatt H and Parmar Woodroffe R, Thirgood S and Rabinowitz A U (2013). Therapeutic potential of (2005). In: People and Wildlife, snake venom in cancer therapy: Conflict or Coexistence? current perspectives. Asian Pac J Conservation Biology, ed. 9, Trop Bio., 3 (2): 156-162. Cambridge University Press, https://doi.org/10.1016/S2221- Cambridge, UK. 1691(13)60042-8 Zedrosser A, Dahle B, Swenson JE and Warren Y, Buba B and Ross C (2007). Gerstl N (2001). Status and Patterns of crop-raiding by wild and management of the brown bear in domestic animals near Gashaka Europe. Ursus, 12: 9-20. Gumti National Park, Nigeria. Int J Pest Manag., 53 (3): 207-216.