Several deer carried out by flood waters in the Punjab districts were rescued by the Punjab fauna rangers, officials announced on Saturday.
The Punjab Wildlife Department launched an emergency operation on the directives of the Punjab chief, Maryam Nawaz, to save animals in the districts struck by floods. Specialized ambulances, veterinary doctors and temporary camps were deployed to treat injured fauna.
According to the Punjab, the director general of the Rangers of the General Wildlife Syed Kamran Bukhari, a pair of deer was rescued in Sialkot on August 26. In Narowal, an injured and pregnant woman received medical treatment, while a young man was safely moved to Shakargarh. Additional rescues in Muridke, Wazirabad and Mandi Bahauddin brought the total number to seven.
Read: No respite in Punjab, sudden floods are only at least 28 lives
The main provincial minister Maryam Aurangzeb said that the government considered the life of animals “just as precious as human lives”, adding that floods often leave the most affected fauna.
Experts warn that recent floods have destroyed not only houses and cultures, but also wildlife habitats, leaving animals homeless or food. They warn that without timely intervention, species such as deer and other risks of rare fauna.
Punjab floods
High floods in the three main rivers of Punjab – Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej – made at least 28 lives and flooded large expanses of agricultural land, following high precipitation and excessive versions of India.
The Sutlej river in Ganda Singh Wala has exceeded 350,000 Cusecases – the heaviest flow since 1955 – causing evacuations to Kasur and adjacent districts. Authorities warn that the situation can worsen with new rains and possible upstream releases.
The Chenab river also inflates dangerously, with 855,000 brackets recorded in Chiniot Bridge, threatening dozens of downstream villages. In Multan, the river overwhelmed agricultural land in Shujaabad, the authorities preparing controlled breaches to protect urban areas.
Meanwhile, the delight at the Shahdara point in Lahore has reached 220,000 Cusecases – its highest level since 1988 – submerging several housing companies and forcing mass evacuations. Rescue camps have been set up to house displaced families.
Earlier this week, as well as human evacuations, more than 148,000 cattle have been moved to safer areas, with 234 animal treatment camps set up to provide medical support.
Punjab rescue commissioner Nabeel Javed said that a violation had been made at the backfire Rra-1 to divert water and protect the city of Kasur. The water levels increase in Sulemanki and Balloki Headworks, while the flows in Shahdara have started to back down. In Jhang, the Jhang-Shorkot road sections and the Riwaz bridge were deliberately raped to reduce pressure, diverting flood waters from the populated areas.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of “exceptionally high flood levels” in Sutlej and Chenab between August 30 and September 2, with the Indus in Guddu and Sukkur which should reach very high flood levels in the coming days.
