Zoos urged to adopt global standards

MNA Vankwani pushes for protecting animal rights

ISLAMABAD:

Rights of every animal and bird across the country must be protected, said Member National Assembly (MNA) and Patron-in-chief Pakistan Hindu Council Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani.

During a social media live session, he said: "There is a dire need for legislation to bring all zoos across the country in line with the international standards."

He was expressing his views to acknowledge the success of Free Kaavan movement. "The tireless struggle of all activists for freeing Kaavan is indeed remarkable and a big achievement," he stated adding that Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah deserves a tribute for issuing orders to release the poor animals.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah had issued a written judgment which ordered the government to complete all arrangements for the shifting of Kaavan elephant and bears abroad so that they could enjoy the natural environment.

The order stated that there was no appropriate sanctuary in Pakistan to shift the Himalayan brown bear, even the Punjab government was also not ready to take the responsibility of those animals.

The decision further said the animal had faced a lot of miseries during their exhibition in zoo, adding it was violation of the law to keep the animals in unnatural environment. The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board chairman had informed the court that all arrangements were being made to shift Kaavan to Cambodia in compliance of court orders.

The parliamentarian, who also heads Pakistan Hindu Council, emphasised that the teachings of all religions, including Hinduism, have specially instructed to treat animals with compassion and kindness. "Islam counts animals among the creatures of God who are living according to the laws of nature," he said. The last Holy Prophet (PBUH) also urged that people to treat animals with love, kindness and care, Vankwani further expressed.

Answering a question during the live session, he quoted Mahatma Gandhi: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Vankwani said that people must understand that today, in the 21st century, the concepts regarding zoos have entirely changed.

He was of the view that world's best universities are now producing graduates with degrees in animal welfare and zoo management.

He further informed that many countries, such as South Africa, are introducing eco-friendly tourism where people can enjoy wildlife in a friendly way.

In concluding remarks, he emphasised that being a good human being, it is a moral responsibility to feel the pain of innocent animals.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2020.