KARACHI: This is with reference to several reports in the media on the tragic death of lion cubs in Karachi Zoo. I happened to visit the zoo some months ago, and I have to say that what I saw then, was so horrific that I can understand why animals die there.
Most of the cages were smelly and this meant that the animals were living in the most unhygienic and unsanitary of conditions. In fact, the situation was so bad that we could smell the cages the minute we entered the zoo premises. I had some children with me and they were delighted to see the animals. However, most of the animals did not have anybody to keep watch over them. And this meant that the general public at the zoo was giving them food, which is something that a good zoo would forbid. Also, as is our national habit, many of the people were teasing the animals, either by throwing stones at them, or by pushing through the bars of the cages with sticks in hand. Many were unkempt, as in, it seemed that not much attention was being paid by the zoo authorities to their personal appearance and hygiene. It didn’t take too much to figure out that in such terrible conditions even the healthiest of animals would develop illnesses and infections.
Clearly, the zoo lacked trained caretakers for the animals or a vet. If the situation goes unchecked, the next victims could be the young elephants which were recently acquired and which are quite a major public attraction.
Sadaf Khalid
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2011.
