ISLAMABAD: Four months after opening, Peshawar city’s first zoo is facing demands that it be shut down because conditions for its animals are substandard.
More than 40 animals, including 30 birds, a fallow dear, a monkey, an antelope and a snow leopard, have died at the zoo since its opening in February.
The zoo welcomed another three pairs of Bengal tigers last week amid the outcry.
Most of the animals died from respiratory illnesses, although the monkey was fatally injured by a wolf kept in the same cage.
Pakistanis across the country have joined Peshawar residents in demanding the zoo be shut down.
A Twitter campaign under the hashtag #ShutDownPeshawarZoo is giving animal-lovers a platform to voice their concern.
However, Mohammed Ali, the zoo’s director, said that steps are being taken to improve the situation.
“Only a few animals have died in Peshawar zoo, while in advanced zoos abroad, including those in the UK, the animal mortality rate has been recorded in hundreds,” he said.
Ali said the zoo was understaffed and its management was working to ensure animals received proper care.
“Steps have been taken to address the issue of animal care,” said Ali.
“We are focusing on improving the established animal habitats at the zoo to match them with their natural environment. We are also paying more attention to monitoring the animals and ensuring efficient coordination with zoo staff,” he said.
Ali said he was unaware of the hashtag campaign on Twitter and was optimistic for the future.
“The zoo continues to improve with every day. We hope to meets the standards of other such facilities in Pakistan,” he said.
“Peshawar is playing a positive role in the conservation of wildlife and education of the public through this zoo,” he said.
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