(PK) Op Ed on Pakistani zoos

March 11, 2010

Zoos in this whole region (India and Pakistan ) are in deplorable conditions.

The Selection and collection of animals is also not good as well as management

is poor.

I visited Lahore Zoo and Lahore safari in 2008 The Lahore Zoo is more than 100

yrs old and is going through renovation.

It was sad to see that they do not have Asiatic Elephant in Zoo, it was african

Counterpart. The Pak should get Asiatic elephants if it really want to do

conservation, as they are adapted to this region.

I also doubt they have African Lions.

In peacock Enclosures all the subspecies like Black shoulder,Green Java and

(albino) were kept with the other native peacocks resulting in hybrids.

There I saw a bird market in Multan.

I met SPCA officials in Lahore. They told me that they book 200-300 cases of

cruelty every month. Livestock Deptt. Govt. of Punjab was helping SPCA with

salary of Staff and for Medicines.

But Here I do not think such No. of Cases are Booked that means that either the

Cruelty is too much there and Nil or less here in India (or Indian SPCAs are not

Working to check cruelty).

However I also visited Animals /birds kept by private collector and their care

in many cases is very good. (I don't support This).

Regards!

Dr.Sandeep K.Jain

Member Punjab State Board for wildlife.

--- On Wed, 10/3/10, wrote:

(PK) Op Ed on Pakistani zoos

" AAPN List " <aapn >

Wednesday, 10 March, 2010, 10:06 AM

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/edit\

orial/14-cruelty-in-zoos-930-zj-06

Cruelty in zoos

Dawn Editorial

Tuesday, 09 Mar, 2010

An emaciated lioness has lost sight in one eye at the Karachiâ€™s Korangi zoo.

â€“Fahim Siddiqi/White Star

Â Sindh

CDGK paying millions for â€˜donatedâ€™ elephants

<http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/sin\

dh/cdgk-paying-millions-for-donated-elephants--zj>

Â CDGK paying millions for â€˜donatedâ€™ elephants

*Cruelty towards animals is all too common in Pakistan. Across the country

we can see dogs with gaping head wounds inflicted by people who consider it

normal behaviour to stone feral canines. Donkeys and other beasts of burden

are beaten mercilessly, and even pet animals are sometimes subjected to the

harshest of treatment. *

But the savagery doesnâ€™t end there. Zoos are supposed to be a refuge for

animals, especially those on the list of threatened or endangered species.

The modern concept of a zoo envisages an environment where animals whose

numbers are dwindling in the wild are protected, and perhaps bred, in

surroundings that resemble their natural habitats. Instead, what we get in

Pakistan is the imprisonment of animals in conditions that are cruel and

degrading.

As this paper highlighted on Monday, the situation is particularly alarming

in â€˜mini zoosâ€™ such as the one located in Karachiâ€™s Korangi area. There is

simply no justification for these woebegone institutions when the

authorities concerned cannot even address the pitiful conditions prevailing

at the cityâ€™s main zoological garden. There and in other â€˜zoosâ€™ in

Karachi,

many animals tend to be malnourished and diseased, and are mistreated by

staff and visitors alike.

Elsewhere in the country too, zoo animals die in mysterious circumstances in

the absence of adequate care by staff and prompt treatment by qualified

veterinarians. A shortage of funds may be a factor but throwing money at a

problem rarely produces results in Pakistan. This tragic state of affairs is

the result of human callousness and nothing will change until attitudes do.

Animals ought to be a source of awe, not amusement, and they shouldnâ€™t be

seen as a source of revenue either. If zoos worth the name cannot be

maintained in this country, they should be done away with altogether.

March 11, 2010

On Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 8:29 AM, Dr.Sandeep Kumar Jain <

jeevdaya04 wrote:

>

> It is was sad to see that they donot have Asiatic Elephant in Zoo , it was

> african Counterpart.The Pak should get Asiatic elephants if it really want

> to do conservation,as they are adapted to this region.

> I also doubt they have African Lions.

> In peacock Enclosures all the subspecies like Black shoulder,Green Java

> and (albino) were kept with the other native peacocks resulting in hybrids.

>

The dreaded hybridisation and speciation issue again. So here goes :

1) What is wrong with keeping African Elephants is also wrong with keeping

Asian Elephants. Elephants are not meant to be in zoos, irrespective of

species. It is hilarious to suggest Pakistani zoo elephants can help wild

elephants in elephant range states by housing Asian Elephants in Karachi.

2) By the same token, if a zoo can keep Asian Lions they can also keep

African Lions and hybrid lions. The hybrids are better looking than the Asian

ones.

3) Nothing wrong with hybrid birds, they can be beautiful, cute and sweet.

These are some hybridisation cases of birds in the wild :

1) Rock Partridge and Red Legged Partridge

2) California Quail and Gambel's Quail

3) Red Breasted Sapsucker and Red Naped Sapsucker

4)Two subspecies of Green Backed Woodpecker

5) Vinaceous Dove and Ring Necked Dove

6)Glaucous Winged Gull and Western Gull

7) White Collared Manakin and Golden collared Manakin

8) Hooded Crow and Carrion Crow

9) White Backed Australian Magpie and Black Backed Australian Magpie

10)Pied Flycatcher and Collared Flycatcher

11) Thrush Nightingale and Common Nightingale

12) White Eared Bulbul and Red Vented Bulbul.

Reference : Speciation in Birds by Trevor Price, Roberts and Company

Publishers, Colorado, 2008

Some people say hybrids are undesirable and should be exterminated, I say

they are beautiful and ought to be cherished. USA as a country has proved

its greatness by electing an individual of mixed race(hybrid) origin to the

post of the top ranking representative of their nation. May other nations

follow suit. Three cheers for USA. Thank you very much for bringing this

topic on this forum. If someone posts a message on hybrids again, it would

be very nice for I will have a chance to express my views once more. Three

cheers for all hybrids. If there is a God, may God bless all hybrids because

the whole human race is hybrid. May God bless hybrid Elephants like Motty of

Chester Zoo. May God bless hybrid(African X Asian) Lions in Tirupati Zoo.

May God bless hybrid Java Sparrows in Karachi Zoo. May God bless hybrid

human beings like Barack Obama and Rahul Gandhi. May God bless all hybrid

creatures great and small for the Lord God made them all.(According to the

Creationist theory).

March 11, 2010

Dear Subhobroto!

Yes!

I agree that Zoos should not be Animal Prisons.But as the Zoos are termed a

place for education and research ,so when they are going for African

elephants,Which are not normal residents of this regiion and they will not adapt

to the environment well and will be subjected to stress and Pain in Long

Journeys as Compared to asiatic counterparts.

They will give ample oppurtunity to study the students of Wildlife Biology .

Â

Regarding Hybrids there are many views.They are more stronger .but for purpose

of Genetic studies & Research etc. hybrids are considered taboos.The Zoo Policy

by CZA also say that Zoos should not Encourage Hybrids.

Dr.Sandeep K.Jain

--- On Thu, 11/3/10, wrote:

Re: (PK) Op Ed on Pakistani zoos

aapn

Thursday, 11 March, 2010, 10:57 AM

Â

On Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 8:29 AM, Dr.Sandeep Kumar Jain <

jeevdaya04 (AT) (DOT) co.in> wrote:

>

> It is was sad to see that they donot have Asiatic Elephant in Zoo , it was

> african Counterpart. The Pak should get Asiatic elephants if it really want

> to do conservation, as they are adapted to this region.