The special monitoring committee set up by defunct City District Government (CDGK) with a mandate to submit its recommendation for improvement of health of captive animals of Karachi Zoological Garden has failed to accomplish its assigned job due to lack of interest and unwillingness of the officials concerned, sources said.
Community Development Department (CDD) of the defunct CDGK had chalked out a plan for the prevention of damage, injuries to animals after the death of lion cubs in Karachi Zoo. The plan was evolved after the final report of the committee looking into the death of the lion cubs at Karachi Zoological Garden about one month ago. Zoo's district officer, Mansoor Qazi was held responsible for the deaths. The findings in the inquiry report had confirmed that the lion cubs' death was due to criminal negligence by the zoo administration. In this regard, the defunct community development department had submitted the plan to then District Co-ordination Officer (DCO) to set up a monitoring committee. The committee, as suggested by the community development department of CDGK, was independent to monitor and suggest measures for the improvement of health of captive animals. The committee, comprising members for civil society, media and animal experts, was to suggest measures for animal breeding especially of lions, chimpanzees, and ostrich and.
It is pertinent to mention that in December last year four lions were seized by customs authorities at Karachi Airport following which they were handed over to Sindh Wildlife Department and finally shifted to Zoological Garden for safe keeping. These big cats were kept at the zoo as trusteeship of the Sindh Wildlife Department unless it makes some other arrangements for them. Sources said that the food and other expenses of these lions were supposed to be borne by the Wildlife Department. The three lion cubs died mysteriously within four days of their arrival at the Karachi Zoological Garden while a fourth cub disappeared altogether.