Zoo visitors shocked by apathy towards animals

LAHORE: When Arshad Pervaiz took his children to the famous Lahore Zoo, he hoped to introduce them to the world of nature and wildlife. However, he left the recreational facility with his tail between his legs.

He was shocked by litter strewn all around and perhaps more importantly by people’s behaviour towards animals. Despite the untimely demise of the zoo’s beloved Suzi, an African elephant, the administration’s apathy towards the zoo residents was apparent.

“I don’t know why they do not care for their animals,” he said. “Even the odd visit will show that authorities are merely interested in minting money rather than piquing public interest or raising awareness about wildlife.”



An annual report from last year on the zoo’s affairs supported Arshad’s views. It may be home to as many as 1,100 animals from 122 species, but the report showed that Suzi was fourth animal to die prematurely between 2016 and 2017. It added the other animals which perished included spotted dear, urials and a juvenile crocodile.

Death trap

The spotted deer died due to a fight between two members of the species in their cage, while the juvenile croc had a sudden seizure and the zoo administration could reportedly do little to save it. The urial lambs also died prematurely.

The report further said that during 2016, the zoo had an income of Rs150 million compared to a total expenditure of Rs100 million.

“The zoo may have earned a profit of Rs50 million, but all this does reflect the ugly relationship between the administration and the wildlife it is supposed to care for,” Arshad further commented, “Why do they have such a lack of love for nature,” he questioned. “Are we not a civilised nation?”

The success stories

However, there are success stories at the zoo. Kiran, an education officer familiar with the activities of veterinarian students and medics at the facility, said exhaustive efforts had been made to save the life of every animal, not just Suzi the elephant.



According to her, a lion cub and camel were saved and managed to recover after being provided extraordinary treatment by consultants and veterinary doctors.

She stated the zoo served as the birthplace of at least 549 birds and animals including lion cubs, baboons, zebras, hog deer, spotted deer, fallow deer, peafowl, pheasants and ducks.

“It is premature to say that the zoo administration is not caring for the animals in the cage,” she added.

Suzi’s death

The beloved African bush elephant was brought from Belgium in 1988. The average lifespan of the species is between 60 and 85 years, but she died at the age of just 32. Those familiar with the development said even this did not jolt the administration. According to her postmortem report, the reason of death was a heart attack.

A wildlife expert from a prominent international organisation told The Express Tribune that if such an incident occurred in other countries, the administration would have suspended the entire staff of the zoo.

“Cages wildlife is going to end and most countries have developed safari parks to protect natural environment and habitat,” he said.

“It is time to develop such facilities for the animals and perhaps we can be counted among cilvilised countries by providing these facilities,” he concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2017.