Karachi zoological garden was once considered as a lovely place to visit as well as learning place for kids and adults, but now this place appears to be literally a graveyard, as if no one cares for it anymore. It has an area of 33 acres but the administration has failed to utilise it in an appropriate manner. Recently, I visited the zoo after 9 years and I was shocked at the condition there. Several cages were totally empty, and the ones that had some animals had only a few animals. Most of the animals like lions, the famous Bengal tigers and white lions were in really pathetic conditions. The animals seemed totally down though the children were happy to see them. The animals were sitting inside their hideouts as no proper food or water was fed to them.
The water in which pelicans and ducks were floating was muddy and full of garbage. Same was the condition of the reptile house. The Mughal Garden, which they claim was home to different kinds of roses, did not have a single bloom. Even the metal statues of a lion and lioness were missing. It is the only place for students to learn about animals but the conditions as I have described were very depressing.
Zoos all over the world are places of interest for family outings and school children are taken on visits. What has really happened to Pakistan? Have we lost all sense of how a country is run or are the authorities only interested in their hefty salaries and go home without any care for what the people need. But what to say of these neglected animals people are treated worse in Karachi so maybe I should not complain!
RAMEEZ FAROOQUI,
Karachi, May 26.