PESHAWAR: The Lahore Zoo administration has reported the death of another giraffe due to ‘blood infection’ on Thursday night.
The director of zoo said that according to initial reports, the giraffe died due to ‘blood infection’. This male giraffe was brought to Lahore Zoo in 2018 and was 9 to 10-year old. After the postmortem, the remains of the giraffe were buried inside the Zoo.
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There have been constant reports of animal abuse, disease, deaths and food shortages in Pakistan’s zoos. Thanks to the social media, news and reaction to animals deaths are spreading fast and animal rights organisation are taking steps for its protection.
In May 2017, an attractive elephant ‘Susie’ died in Lahore Zoo. Few years ago, pictures and videos of a chained elephant, Kaavan, came to light from Marghzar Zoo in Islamabad. After which local and international organisations launched a campaign and Kaavan was finally transferred to Cambodia’s animal protection sanctuary.
In the year 2020, four deer were died in Peshawar Zoo, in the same year seven deer were found dead in Bahawalpur Zoo. In January 2021, two white lion cubs died at the Lahore Zoo, who were said to be suffering of Covid-19, while a pair of kangaroos and a lion were reportedly dead in June in the same zoo.
Recently, after the deaths of a white lion at Karachi Zoo, a debate started again that the zoo should be closed if it cannot provide conducive environment to animals. After which the Karachi Municipality first informed that the lion died due to TB but later on, the director was removed and an investigation order was issued.
In November 2021, The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that 15 to 20 giraffes have died at the Peshawar Zoo. The chief justice questioned who is allowing the import of the animal? The chief justice was hearing a case against the import of rare and exotic animals.
The chief justice maintained said that import of exotic animals is a ‘violation’ of treaties signed by Pakistan with the international community. The chief justice said the scientific and management authority of the federal ministry of climate change should review before allowing the import of exotic animals.