Procurement of zoo animals delayed

Zoo admin had agreed to fund the import: Wildlife Dept.

LAHORE: The procurement of 35 animals for Lahore Zoo has been delayed although the committee concerned has approved the request.

Lahore Zoo Director Shafqat Ali said the Wildlife Department director general reviewed the request for each animal. “A committee is formed for the purpose. We have to review the list of animals if even one committee member disagrees [with the proposal],” he said.

Ali said one of the reasons for the delay was an international obligation under which the zoo could only buy animals that were born and bred in captivity. “This makes it difficult for us to arrange the required animals on time,” he said. Ali said he could not give any timeframe for the import. He said the animals to be acquired would complete pairs for mating purposes. He said the zoo administration had to make close estimates before the authorities to claim funds for the procurement.

He said the administration wanted to obtain a pair of giraffes. “The animals to be bought to complete pairs include a female white rhinoceros, two female Sika deer, two female vervet monkeys, two female capuchin monkeys and one male brown bear.” He said a pair of white lions and one of black leopards would also be brought to the zoo.

Wildlife Department Deputy Director Naeem Bhatti said the department had approved the animals’ list on receiving assurance from the zoo administration that it would bear the cost. But, he said, the zoo management was now seeking funds from the government. “They now need to send a proposal to the forestry, wildlife and fisheries secretary,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2015.