As another Eid festival approaches, the Margazar Zoo gives an uninhabited and desolate look as cages of lions, leopards, giraffes and snakes have been lying vacant there for the last couple of years. Children from the twin cities would have to return to their homes depressed, as their favorite animals would not be on display once again.
“This is my last visit. I will never come here again. What kind of a zoo is this, where we can not enjoy roaring lions, jumping tigers or unique giraffes?” said Maaz Ali, a student of grade four, angrily.
“We have also lost the last remaining attraction, the elephant ride, due to the death of the female elephant.” a girl Summayya Janjua said. Mehran Khan, a frequent visitor to the zoo, told sources that zoos in Karachi and Lahore are far better as all kinds of animals can be found there. “Unfortunately the zoo in the federal capital doesn’t have any of these animals,” he said. He said that the Margazar Zoo authorities should bring back lions, leopards and snakes to the zoo exhibition as the children love to see these animals.
The zoo in the federal capital, which is supposed to be a model for zoos in other cities across the country, gives a miserable look, he added.
It is baffling how the administration could not manage to bring back missing animals to the zoo, by purchase nor exchange deals that are common with wildlife associations across the world, he said.
According to a CDA official, there had been no lions in the past decade, after the animal died there owing to a prolonged illness, even though in 2001, the zoo had a pair of lions and six cheetahs.
The pair of lions died and CDA donated the cheetahs due to a lack of facilities to house the animals. According to the official, four of them were handed over to Loi Bher, Jungle Park Zoo and rest to Jungle Wood Park.
The official said that the project of the new Margazar Zoo is in progress that would encompass all facilities and animals, which are currently missing from the zoo.
He said that under the project, CDA had planned to bring three lions and a pair of leopards. The project also included fencing existing enclosures for animals, development of sit-out areas, replacement of sheets on sheds, establishment of a hatchery and incubators.
A security system would also be installed at the zoo which would include walk-through gates and security cameras. The project also covers repairing a bear house, the crocodile house, tube-well, water tank and the retaining wall of the F-8 enclosure.
Ramzan Sajid, the CDA spokesman said, the ongoing zoo expansion project comprises all features to make the zoo state-of-the-art, and despite the financial crunch the CDA is trying its utmost to improve facilities for animals at the zoo.
Margazar Zoo echoes silence this Eid too
