SHC issues notices over zoo animals’ state

Petitioners claim animals in Hyderabad's Rani Bagh are in pain, starved and suffering

HYDERABAD:

The misery of the Hyderabad zoo's animals has drawn the attention of an advocacy group - Rights Now Pakistan - which has brought the matter to the Sindh High Court (SHC).

The SHC Hyderabad circuit bench issued notices on Thursday to the Sindh local government secretary, Hyderabad deputy commissioner, chief municipal officer, Qasimabad municipal administrator and the zoo contractor for October 27.

The petitioners told the court that the animals were in pain, starved, suffering from the heat and kept in an unhealthy environment at the Rani Bagh zoo. "We have also come to know that the animals aren't being given proper food, water and care in the cages."

They recalled that the zoo, located in the sprawling Rani Bagh, was originally established in 1861 as an agro-horticultural society. It is currently under the administration of the Qasimabad municipal committee, but a contractor is responsible for the animals' food and care.

According to the petitioners, the zoo houses a pair each of ostriches, ponies, wild cats, crocodiles with six hatchlings; two of white deer; three of rabbits; and four each of peacocks and parrots, along with six foxes, two wolves, four monkeys, a zebra, a snake, a mink, a blue bull, hens, goats, ducks and a macaw.

They added that there has been no lion at the zoo for around 11 years, since a lioness brought to the facility in 2008 died.

The petitioners claimed the contractor was not meeting the animals' food requirements and, consequently, they appeared to be starving. For example, they pointed out, just 10 kilogrammes of beef was bought for the crocodiles, foxes and wolves each day.

The zoo staff, on their part, allegedly complained that they were not paid salaries on time, said the petitioners, adding that the staff had also informed them that ailing animals were not given proper care. Further, they claimed, the animals were without food and water during the Covid-19 lockdown.

They alleged that contracts for the zoo, as well as the parks, funland and theatre in Rani Bagh, were given on the basis of nepotism and personal interest.

Citing a 2004 SHC order and a visit by the water commission in 2018, the petitioners argued that orders for improving the zoo's conditions had not been implemented. "The staff is violating Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty against Animals Act," they added.

They prayed the court to order a transfer of the management of Rani Bagh, including the zoo, to the district administration and to allocate an annual budget as well. Furthermore, they pleaded the court to order the respondents to submit the record of development schemes executed in Rani Bagh over the last decade.

"A committee consisting of zoologists, officials of good repute and civil society representatives should be formed to monitor the zoo," they further said.

The petitioners' counsel, Ali Palh, told The Express Tribune that the court had ordered them to submit names of zoologists and veterinarians to conduct a need assessment survey.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2020.