Firestorm threatens wildlife
Monday, June 18th, 2012 11:22:29 by Ahmad Mehdi
Firestorm threatens wildlife
A massive firestorm that hit Margalla Hills of Taxila range on Friday evening gutted vast forest area and destroyed wildlife and resident species, Dawn has learnt on Sunday.
An official of Punjab forest department said that vast forest area of Taxila range near Khurram Paracha, Khurram Gujjar was completely engulfed by flames as a fire that erupted in Margalla Hills in federal capital spread to the hills on Taxila side.
The fire also reached the thick forest of Garamthoom village in Khanpur area close to a sensitive installation on Friday evening prompting firefighters to spring into action to put it fire out.
So big was the fire that its flames were visible from Wah Cantonment and other adjoining areas. Residents of Khurram Gujjar village said they could see the flames from several kilometres and the sky was covered with thick black smoke.
A forest department official said precious wildlife species and a number of birds particular to agricultural environment were burnt alive due to sudden spread of the fire caused by gusty winds that destroyed trees, plants and animals over an area of more
than 80 acres.
He added that major wildlife and resident species including rhesus macaques (monkeys), grey gorals, barking deer, jungle cats, porcupines, cape hares, Himalayan palm civets, red foxes, Asiatic jackals, white crested pheasants, golden orioles, paradise flycatchers,
grey shrikes and spotted doves were either killed or forced to migrate due to massive fire as there was no sign of any life on the hills left by Sunday when the fire was put out.
He told Dawn, “Unfortunately, fire at the Margalla Hills has become an annual feature of summer season. It not only mars the natural beauty of the hills but also harms the wildlife irreparably.”
Tags: firestorm, gujrawala, major threat, partyShort URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=26210
Posted by Ahmad Mehdi
on Jun 18 2012. Filed under Latest News.
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