Punjab’s Forest and Wildlife Department recovered 44 bar-headed geese in an operation against mafia allgedly involved in the illegal smuggling of rare birds on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, officials recovered 44 bar-headed geese, a migratory species that travels to Pakistan from Siberia during winter. The birds were seized during a raid conducted by the Forest and Wildlife Department’s staff.

On the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the rescued birds will be released into the wild on Wednesday. The department said the geese will be freed at Kala Chitta National Park.

According to a post-examination report issued by the Forest and Wildlife Department, all 44 birds are in good health.

Read: Wildlife dept recovered over 16,000 animals, birds in 2025

Authorities have registered first information reports (FIRs) against two suspects allegedly involved in the illegal trade. The action was taken under the Punjab Wildlife Act 2025. Under the Wildlife Act 2025, the illegal hunting and smuggling of animals and birds is a non-bailable offence.

The Punjab government thanked the citizen who provided information leading to the operation.