Silent cries

Pleas of animals go unheard in our country. These animals are the one who are kept in zoos across the country. Their plight is being ignored by the concerned authorities. These animals suffer in silence and die a painful death. Keeping an animal in cage, under miserable conditions, for the sake of amusements or fun is cruel. Zoos are operated across the world as places of entertainment. Across the world, the concerned department boasts that zoo is a right place for the conservation of animals. But, people ignore the fact that these animals cannot live in an artificial habitat. For example, a polar bear cannot be brought to a zoo in Karachi. The weather here is not suitable for a bear.

Last month, the only female elephant at the Lahore Zoo, Suzi, died. The post mortem report revealed that the poor elephant was suffering from several diseases, including ulcer, heart disease, infection in intestine, high uric acid, etc. She lived in isolation for so many areas – the Lahore Zoo only had one elephant. This was the breach of international standards that require a zoo holding elephants to have a minimum of three elephants – including elephants of mixed gender. In our country, mismanagement in zoos has affected the lives of animals. These animals are given less than the prescribed diet and are kept in small space. Visitors throw trash at them or make noises to disturb them. The concerned authorities should work for the welfare of these animals.

Sheharyar Naeem

Lahore