Several deer swept away by floodwaters across districts in Punjab were rescued by Punjab Wildlife Rangers, officials said Saturday.
The Punjab Wildlife Department launched an emergency operation on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to save animals in flood-hit districts. Specialised ambulances, veterinary doctors and temporary camps have been deployed to treat injured wildlife.
According to Punjab Additional Director General Wildlife Rangers Syed Kamran Bukhari, a pair of deer was rescued in Sialkot on August 26. In Narowal, an injured and pregnant female deer received medical treatment, while a young male was relocated to safety in Shakargarh. Additional rescues in Muridke, Wazirabad and Mandi Bahauddin brought the total number to seven.
Read: No respite in Punjab as flash floods claim at least 28 lives
Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said the government considers animal lives “just as precious as human lives,” adding that floods often leave wildlife among the worst affected.
Experts caution that the recent floods have destroyed not only homes and crops but also wildlife habitats, leaving animals without shelter or food. They warn that without timely intervention, species such as deer and other rare wildlife face heightened risk.
Punjab floods
High flooding in Punjab’s three major rivers — Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej — has claimed at least 28 lives and inundated vast stretches of farmland, following heavy rainfall and excessive water releases from India.
The Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala has surged past 350,000 cusecs — the heaviest flow since 1955 — prompting evacuations in Kasur and adjoining districts. Authorities warn the situation may worsen with further rain and possible upstream discharges.
The Chenab River is also swelling dangerously, with 855,000 cusecs recorded at Chiniot Bridge, threatening dozens of downstream villages. In Multan, the river has submerged farmland in Shujaabad, with authorities preparing controlled breaches to protect urban areas.
Meanwhile, the Ravi at Lahore’s Shahdara point reached 220,000 cusecs — its highest level since 1988 — submerging several housing societies and forcing mass evacuations. Relief camps have been set up to shelter displaced families.
Earlier this week, along with human evacuations, more than 148,000 livestock were relocated to safer areas, with 234 animal treatment camps set up to provide medical support.
Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed said a breach was made at the RRA-1 embankment to divert water and protect Kasur city. Water levels are rising at Sulemanki and Balloki headworks, while flows at Shahdara have begun to recede. In Jhang, sections of the Jhang–Shorkot road and Riwaz bridge were deliberately breached to reduce pressure, diverting floodwaters away from populated areas.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of “exceptionally high flood levels” in the Sutlej and Chenab between August 30 and September 2, with the Indus at Guddu and Sukkur expected to reach very high flood levels in the coming days.
