Oh de(e)r!: Zoo in-charge suspended over missing deer
After the DC’s warning, one of the young deer was brought back to the zoo
Two young deer recently went missing from the Hyderabad zoo. The zoo in-charge has been suspended. PHOTO: EXPRESS
HYDERABAD:
The alleged theft of two white deer from Hyderabad's zoo has yet again exposed its inefficient management and lack of official oversight on the zoo. To top it off, none other than the zoo in-charge, acting assistant director Ali Raza Shoro, is facing an inquiry for his role in the theft.
"I have suspended the AD of the zoo," Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner told The Express Tribune. "Further action will also be taken against him after a thorough inquiry."
The incident came into the notice of the district administration on Thursday. The DC initially gave two days to Shoro, who is a relative of the provincial minister Jam Khan Shoro, to bring back the deer. By Sunday, however, only one of the young deer was returned to the zoo. In his statement submitted to the Qasimabad Municipal Committee, under whose jurisdiction the zoo falls, Shoro stated that one of the deer had died while another was sick and had been taken to a veterinarian for treatment. He could not, however, substantiate his claim as the Sindh livestock department's vet, Dr Ghulam Shah Jeelani, who is assigned the temporary responsibility at the zoo, expressed ignorance about the issue. Though the zoo is supposed to function under a veterinarian as its assistant director, it still lacks a full time vet. "I don't know about the issue," said Dr Jeelani, while talking to The Express Tribune. "If an animal is sick or needs hospitalisation, I am the first to know about it." He also expressed ignorance regarding any inquiry being conducted against Shoro. Despite repeated attempts, Shoro could not be contacted for his version.
Veterinarian for the zoo
The DC also confirmed that the QMC does not have a veterinarian for the zoo. "We will have to borrow an official from the livestock dept," he said, perhaps not aware that a vet from the livestock department was already offering part-time services at the zoo.
According to Dr Jeelani, he spends an hour or so daily at the zoo. He complains that the livestock department does not pay him for this additional service. "I believe the appointment of a full-time vet is very important [for the zoo]." Dr Arif Jahejo was the last vet who headed the zoo as assistant director for more than two years ago until he was promoted to BPS-18 and called back to his parent department in the local government. Since then, Shoro, who was appointed on a BPS-14 post, is in-charge of the zoo.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2015.
The alleged theft of two white deer from Hyderabad's zoo has yet again exposed its inefficient management and lack of official oversight on the zoo. To top it off, none other than the zoo in-charge, acting assistant director Ali Raza Shoro, is facing an inquiry for his role in the theft.
"I have suspended the AD of the zoo," Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner told The Express Tribune. "Further action will also be taken against him after a thorough inquiry."
The incident came into the notice of the district administration on Thursday. The DC initially gave two days to Shoro, who is a relative of the provincial minister Jam Khan Shoro, to bring back the deer. By Sunday, however, only one of the young deer was returned to the zoo. In his statement submitted to the Qasimabad Municipal Committee, under whose jurisdiction the zoo falls, Shoro stated that one of the deer had died while another was sick and had been taken to a veterinarian for treatment. He could not, however, substantiate his claim as the Sindh livestock department's vet, Dr Ghulam Shah Jeelani, who is assigned the temporary responsibility at the zoo, expressed ignorance about the issue. Though the zoo is supposed to function under a veterinarian as its assistant director, it still lacks a full time vet. "I don't know about the issue," said Dr Jeelani, while talking to The Express Tribune. "If an animal is sick or needs hospitalisation, I am the first to know about it." He also expressed ignorance regarding any inquiry being conducted against Shoro. Despite repeated attempts, Shoro could not be contacted for his version.
Veterinarian for the zoo
The DC also confirmed that the QMC does not have a veterinarian for the zoo. "We will have to borrow an official from the livestock dept," he said, perhaps not aware that a vet from the livestock department was already offering part-time services at the zoo.
According to Dr Jeelani, he spends an hour or so daily at the zoo. He complains that the livestock department does not pay him for this additional service. "I believe the appointment of a full-time vet is very important [for the zoo]." Dr Arif Jahejo was the last vet who headed the zoo as assistant director for more than two years ago until he was promoted to BPS-18 and called back to his parent department in the local government. Since then, Shoro, who was appointed on a BPS-14 post, is in-charge of the zoo.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2015.