Customs foils attempt to smuggle endangered falcons

Customs foils attempt to smuggle endangered falcons

KARACHI (Dunya News) - Customs authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle dozens of endangered falcons worth more than one million dollars out of the country.

According to details, customs officials seized 70 falcons and a houbara bustard at locations around the southern port city of Karachi in what they called an "unprecedented" anti-smuggling operation.

"The birds are listed as rare and endangered species and their trade is strictly banned," said senior customs officer.

Authorities have arrested two suspects and plan to release the birds into the wild.

The houbara bustard is a desert bird whose meat is prized among Arab sheikhs as an aphrodisiac.

Falcons are often used by wealthy hunting parties from the Gulf who travel to Pakistan s southwestern Balochistan province every winter to catch and kill the houbara.