Security forces poaching endangered animals

FAIZABAD (SW): Officials at the National Environment Protection Agency (NEPA) in Badakhshan have charged the security forces for poaching endangered animals in the province.

Ghulam Nabi Sarfaraz, head of NEPA in Badakhshan, informed Salam Watandar that the Afghan Border Police (ABP) men as well as the illegally armed men are involved in rampant poaching of endangered species. He said a number of such species are on the verge of extinction due to poaching in Zebak, Ashkasham and Wakhan districts.

A Wakhan local elder named Musafar informed that the security forces are killing the endangered animals on daily basis.

Security officials, however, reject these allegation. Mohammad Nabi Bayan, director for security in the province, informed that the security forces have in fact ensured the safety of the endangered animals.

The Pamir Plateau in Badakhshan is home to many of the endangered species in Afghanistan such as the Marco Polo sheep, snow leopard, mountain goat and many varieties of rabbit and deer.

ENDS