KARACHI - The Sindh Wildlife Department has sought the help of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and IUCN to start survey for collecting data of wild animals in the province as currently the department has lacked in the required resources, equipment and trained manpower to carry the job. During question hour of the Sindh Assembly on Thursday, Sindh Wildlife Minister Dr Daya Ram said that presently no such data of the wild animals available with the department owing to a lack of resources, technical equipment and trained staff. The original question was asked by Arif Mustafa Jatoi, seeking district-wise total population of Marsh crocodiles in the province. The minister said that due to non-availability of required under water survey equipment and trained manpower, no authentic data is available about the Marsh crocodile population in Sindh. However, field observation and reports of field staff reveal that roughly about 1,200 to 1,500 crocodiles are available in the different water bodies of Khairpur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sang-har and Thatta districts. Daya Ram maintained that the Wildlife department had conducted a study in 2005 to count the population of crocodiles in Nara canal, but after that no any survey had been conducted to collect data of wild animals in the province due to the lack of funds. Besides, the department has already allocated funds to improve Khirthar National Park at Thano Bola Khan near Karachi. The fences have been installed around water boundaries including Keenjhar Lake, Haleji Lake, Chotiarion Dam in Sanghar and Bhit Jabl at Kohistan to protect local population from the dangers crocodiles. Responding to the issues raised by lawmakers about crocodiles attacks on human population at Haleji Lake, the minister admitted that one such incident occurred a few months back in which crocodile attacked a girl, washing clothes in Haleji Lake and killed her, adding that the Sindh government had paid compensation to the heirs of the deceased. To another query, Daya said that the certificate of lawful possession are not issued in respect of live and trophy/skin of Sindh Ibex, Markhur and Urial, saying that the department issues only trophy hunting permits for Sindh Ibex and Urial to the hunters, where Markhur is not found in the province. He said that the foreign ministry with the approval of the Prime Minister, issues the hunting permits for the Arab dignitaries, while the Sindh Wildlife department only guides them to bind the rules. Furthermore, the department also issues permits to the foreigners for hunting and export of protected wild animals, he said, adding that the department has fixed permit fees of $2500 dollars for hunting of Ibex and $18750 dollars for Urial for foreigners. Daya Ram said that no any Wildlife Management Board exists as department actively working under the guidelines of the Sindh Chief Minister. To another query, the minister said that over Rs656.959 million have been recovered on account of fine on illegal hunting of protected and non-protected wild animals in the province during current year. However, the department has collected Rs0.972 million on account of trading in endangered/protected species during 2008, he said. However, the Parliamentary leader of MQM Syed Sardar Ahmed appreciated the Minister Wildlife over his ability and termed that he is well informed about his department.