Islamabad welcomes Indian deer 'invasion'

Lahore: Pakistan calls it an "Indian invasion", but welcomes it. Come winter, sambars, or Indian swamp deers, will stray across the international border to escape heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the western Himalayas.

However, there is nothing political about this snow-sponsored cross-border movement. "Sambars invade Pakistan," The Daily Times announced yesterday.

Five animals this week strayed across the border that divides Punjab on either side of the border. They have been added to the collection at Jallo Wildlife Park, Pakistan's only sanctuary where these animals are multiplying.

They are not being returned to India since there is no treaty to facilitate such exchanges, Punjab Wildlife Department Director General Tajwar Imtiaz said.

"With the exception of humans, anything which crosses the border becomes Pakistan's property," Imtiaz said.

The two countries, in conflict since they became free in 1947, have taken years to frame rules for exchange of even the humans who often accidentally enter each other's waters or land.

Horns of cash

Moreover, says Dawn newspaper, each sambar is 'precious' because of its horns. It could fetch about Pakistani Rs2 million (Dh121,098).

This is also Pakistan's chance to regain its lost wildlife.

Imtiaz explained that sambar is nearly extinct in Pakistan and is found in the Indian Punjab forests between the Ravi and Sutlej rivers.

It is large in size and tends to weigh around 100 to 120 kilogrammes. The colour of the stag tends to be brown with slightly black highlights.

The males also shed their horns. During the summer their bodies are covered with reddish-black hair while during the winter their skins get a reddish-yellow colour.