Inadequate facilities : Multiple deaths haunt Peshawar’s lone zoo

Inexperienced staff and unfavourable environment have sunk the money paid in procuring animals

PESHAWAR:

Opened nearly four years ago, Peshawar’s lone zoo is marred with staff shortages which has led to a high number of animal deaths raising questions on the viability of the zoo itself. The Peshawar Zoo, which is spread over 29 acres of land and is one of the largest in the country, was opened to the public back in 2018 and is currently home to about 150 animals.

However, since its inception 40 valuable animals including snow leopards, common leopards, bears, peacocks, and giraffes have died with sources blaming the deaths on inexperienced staff, untimely treatment, and a lack of favorable environment for the animals. “The death toll in Peshawar zoo is still lower than other zoos in the country,” claimed former Director of the zoo Iftikharul Zaman, “as the zoo provides the best food and shelter for the animals housed here.”

However, Zaman’s claims are in contrast with what multiple reports have revealed, copies of which are available with the Express Tribune. As per the reports: a bear brought to the zoo died by another bear’s attack; similarly, a deer was killed in another animal’s attack; three wild cats died due to lack of proper cages and environment; a snow leopard died at due to the lack of proper temperature and a friendly environment; a cheetah and three giraffes died due to liver complications and diarrhea; a zebra and markhor died due to colliding with a cage; a hyena died due to a tumor and a common leopard died suddenly when it contracted a disease.

The multiple deaths have also jeopardized the zoo administration’s hopes of bringing in bigger animals - like elephants, crocodiles, rhinos, hippos, and other rare species of animals, which are in the Lahore Zoo - for the fourth year now. For instance, a pair of elephants bought for the Peshawar Zoo worth a whopping Rs 90 million have not reached Peshawar for nearly two years now. Mohammad Hanif, the contractor who won the tender for the procurement of the elephants, while talking to the Express Tribune lamented that the elephants were languishing in Zimbabwe since 2020.

“They have fallen ill in Zimbabwe. The purchase of elephants has completed all legal procedures specified by the provincial government but have not made it to the Peshawar zoo due to non-receipt of NOC from the federal government,” a frustrated Hanif informed. The elephant rooms which were built in anticipation of the imminent arrival of the elephants and cost millions of rupees are collecting dust for now, as per Hanif. The lack of larger mammals at the zoo has resulted in some disappointed visitors.

“I was curious to see elephants and bears but there is a shortage of animals here. We wish Peshawar zoo was more like Lahore zoo,” said Nelofar, a student from a private school in Peshawar, who was visiting on a school field trip. According to other students on the trip with Nelofar, it was an injustice that they were being deprived of having a good experience at the zoo.

The Express Tribune also learnt from sources familiar with the matter that there was only one veterinary doctor and four staff members at the zoo to take care of 150 animals. Furthermore, there is no veterinary lab present at the zoo, which poses multiple problems as well. While the Peshawar High Court has taken notice of the deaths of valuable animals, sources informed that the provincial government has now finalized a plan to set up a veterinary lab alongside the zoo.

Director Peshawar Zoo, Niaz Mohammad, when inquired about the plight of the zoo, said that special teams are available around the clock to feed and care for the animals. “We will soon get new animals and the establishment of a veterinary lab will also improve the periodic treatment and breeding of animals,” Mohammad told The Express Tribune.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2022.