Kabul: Afghanistan's National Environment Protection Agency (NEPA) announced on Monday the release of over 15,000 birds and animals into their natural habitats over the past year.

According to Namibia Press Agency, NEPA successfully confiscated approximately 15,313 birds and animals from traffickers and returned them to the wild. Hamed Safi, the head of NEPA's natural heritage conservation department, shared this information with the local media outlet, Tolonews.

The initiative is part of a nationwide campaign launched by NEPA to prevent the hunting of birds and animals, aiming to protect the environment. Afghanistan's diverse mountainous regions are home to rare and precious species, including falcons, vultures, snow leopards, bears, and various antelopes and wild goats.

In efforts to preserve nature, the Afghan interim government has implemented a ban on hunting birds, wild animals, fishing in rivers, and cutting trees in forests.