A hedgehog deer who had wandered in a residential area in the Narowal district of the city of Shakargarh, in the city of Punjab, was successfully rescued and returned to its natural habitat by the department of fauna of Punjab.
The animal has moved away from Mohalla Ansariya, which prompted some inhabitants to try to capture it. Wildlife managers quickly intervened, administered first aid and released the deer in the forest protected by Benhal.
The Punjab Rangers supported the rescue team during the operation, ensuring fluid and secure release.
The chief of the headlong fauna Sheikh Zahid Iqbal praised joint efforts, saying that the timely response helped preserve a vulnerable species and to raise public awareness of fauna protection.
He noted that these animals, including deer and Nilgai, often cross Pakistan from India while fleeing the poachers or looking for food. Once inside Pakistan, they receive the necessary care and protection.
The rescue highlights the continuous efforts of the Pakistani authorities to protect biodiversity and educate citizens on the importance of conservation.
Earlier, a rare Indian gray wolf was killed by shepherds near Bahawalpur, alarming the alarm among environmentalists on the safety of endangered species in rural regions of Pakistan.
The head of fauna and the Syed Ali Usman fauna confirmed that local shepherds had followed and killed the animal in a rural area. The carcass has been recovered and sent for the autopsy.
The authorities investigate the incident under the 2020 law on the protected areas of Punjab (modified in 2025) and have committed to depositing a case once the suspects have been identified.
The Indian gray wolf (Canis Lupus Pallipes) is an endangered subspecies originating in dry and semi-arid regions of South Asia. A little smaller and more elusive than his European parents, the animal rarely enters human establishments unless its habitat is disrupted or that food sources are dry.
