Two of the 24 dinosaurs that have been installed. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS
The Economic Affairs Division (EAD) has refused to train Marghazar Zoo staff on how to handle live animals, a day before a new zoo exhibit featuring life-size models of long-dead animals opens.
The announcement from the Capital Development Authority regarding training was a huge disappointment for zoo staff. A month back, the authority had formally requested EAD to train its officials in areas such as animal healthcare and veterinary medicines, zoo and animal management, animal nutrition, public safety and wildlife conservation.
The EAD, under its Technical Assistance Program (TAP), receives, processes, and coordinates such requests from various federal and provincial governments departments.
CDA spokesperson Asim Khichi denied having knowledge of the EAD’s response, but noted that the civic agency had recently formed a Zoo Advisory Committee on Animal Healthcare (ZACAH) which comprises representatives from the private sector, animal welfare organisations and CDA.
He added that the committee, with active collaboration from members of wildlife conservation organisations, was formulating a comprehensive strategy for the upkeep and uplift of the zoo.
CDA Chairman Nadeem Hassan Asif will open Dinosaur Park, located within the existing Marghazar Zoo, for the general public today. The park houses 24 fibre-glass models of dinosaurs and cost the CDA around Rs1.39 million for repairs, transportation and installation.
Initially, the authority’s defunct Project Management Office had purchased these models in 2009 for Rs40 million to install in Lake View Park, but their location was suddenly changed to Ankara Park on Club Road instead.
Within days of installation, the models were removed due to security issues pertaining to frequent VIP movements on the road, following which the CDA announced their installation at several locations, including Ankara Park, Lake View Park, Kachnar Park in Sector I-8, Japanese Park and the bank of Rawal Dam facing Murree Road, but the plans were never acted upon.
Consequently, the PMO passed the responsibility of their reinstallation on to the authority’s Parks Directorate, which simply dumped them in Ankara Park exposed to the elements until the media highlighted the matter.
The dinosaurs were then abandoned to the left of the Rawal Dam entrance, where humidity and dampness corroded them.
Criticised once again, the CDA gave the replicas a temporary home at its store, until finally, after four years of abuse, the models were repaired and repainted so they could be installed at the zoo.
“We are not worried about the dinosaurs anymore as they do not require our staff to be trained,” joked an official from the CDA environment wing.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2013.
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