The Marghazar Zoo of the federal capital has regained its customers as the resident male elephant called Kavan, previously an aggressive and antisocial animal, has become people-friendly of late. Kavan is people-friendly now. “He allows people to take photos with him and ride him now.” Bilal, the mahout told APP on Tuesday.
Bilal revealed that mahouts are responsible for taming the animals and if an animal is people-friendly, it benefits the mahouts who mint money from the visitors while arranging photo sessions and rides for children.
The zoo had lost its main attraction with the death of the female elephant `Saheli’ on May 1 last year. Saheli who died at the age of 23, after brief illness, had been very friendly with the children, and allowed them to ride on her back and swing on her trunk.
After Saheli’s death, Bilal and his fellows had lost a major source of earning, as the Saheli’s male partner was violent towards the visitors, compelling the zoo administration to keep him chained inside the barn. In a sudden turn of fate, Kaavan, who in 1992 had even killed a sweeper named Sharif Masih for approaching too close, is said to have turned friendly now.
The male elephant is said to be attached to mahout Bilal and does not allow other keepers to serve fodder in the barn. After Saheli’s death, Kavan also fell sick and even now seems to be missing her female partner.
The zoo authority has recently floated tenders to import a female elephant, a lion and snakes but the project is yet to be executed.
