The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
These words, spoken by Mahatma Gandhi many years ago, are worth recalling. Its all the more relevant once we sit down and really think about how brutalized and neglected we have let the animals be. Pakistanis have lost their sense of empathy and that’s not a good look by any means. Take the example of the Islamabad zoo and its inhabitants.
A viral video has captured the cruel conditions and shocking indifference that animals at the zoo in the federal capital have to face day in and out. Just take a look at this poor bear cub, who seems to have been left for dead:
#IslamabadZoo– Bear's condition in scorching heat. Enclosure is miserable pit hole. No fresh water, air, grass, fruit. one bear is badly injured. @zartajgulwazir @ImranKhanPTI @ClimateChangePK @pid_gov @BBhuttoZardari @BakhtawarBZ @MediaCellPPP @pmln_org @AwamiWorkers #IWMB pic.twitter.com/O6Y3GSnZOZ
— HWO Animal Rescue🌐 (@HWOAnimalRescue) July 29, 2019
ALSO READ
Monkey Business: Salman Khan Gets Trolled By A Chimp [Video]
The Islamabad Zoo Needs to Be Closed Down
A zoo is a place where animals are taken care of. But Islamabad Zoo doesn’t fit that description going by the viral video. It could be more in line as a zoo of horrors.
We wonder how many animals are suffering in hot enclosures, without any care like this bear cub is. It is safe to assume this cub is not alone in this heart-wrenching situation.
Who Is Responsible for These Poor Animals?
Turns out, thats exactly the case. CEO of HWO Animal Rescue, Sunil Jamil, personally inspected the zoo and found it in a state of utter neglect.
Apparently, the Islamabad Zoo was previously with IMC. However, things were not ok with them and the Islamabad High Court ruled that the Ministry of Climate Change should take control of the zoo.
Minister Zartaj Gul, who is in charge of the Climate Change ministry, has also not helped matters it seems. These zoos remain in a state of neglect, with no one taking care of the animals and their surroundings.
ALSO READ
This ‘Village Themed Wedding’ Is Being Criticized Over Animal Cruelty
We will let these tweets do the talking:
Miserable landscape of Islamabad Zoo. ducks taking a walk in pool to look for water in 40 degree temperature.@zartajgulwazir your goal was to take over the administration. now whats the difference b/w #CC & #IMC ?#Shame #ClimateChangeMinistry #Shame pic.twitter.com/Nnbxm7I5OD
— Sunil Jamil (@SunilJamill) July 23, 2019
Brown bear in Islamabad Zoo suffering from skin infection & maggot wounds.@ImranKhanPTI @PTIofficial
All these sick animals in Pakistan's Zoo deserve rehab sanctuaries. #Pakistan #Shame #AnimalCruelty #Islamabad #Zoo #Protest pic.twitter.com/C2ZGKQIgj4— Sunil Jamil (@SunilJamill) July 1, 2019
Madam @zartajgulwazir i see no change in enclosures. slaves r still in miserable conditions. while trying to get hold of #IslamabadZoo you claimed that you will make this hell a better place.
This is the matter of voiceless animals. please show some mercy & start working. pic.twitter.com/FhjCl2CELd— Sunil Jamil (@SunilJamill) July 23, 2019
World's worst zoo is in #Islamabad #Pakistan
Internationally recognized as a hell of captive animals. Animals come here healthy but they only leave when they die in young age @ImranKhanPTI once agreed that this zoo isn't capable to provide required facilities. @zartajgulwazir pic.twitter.com/MtHwTb1wfK— Sunil Jamil (@SunilJamill) July 23, 2019
This was Kaavan the elephant who was kept in confined quarters. Just look at how frustrated and helpless it seems:
Kaavan The elephant still in poor conditions. Government of pakistan failed to provide proper food and health facilities in Islamabad zoo@PTIofficial @ImranKhanPTI @fawadchaudhry @PTI#ZooMafia #CDA #MayorIslamabad #FreeKaavanTheElephant #PTI pic.twitter.com/NKt2gCNir7
— HWO Animal Rescue🌐 (@HWOAnimalRescue) July 1, 2019
Apparently people were not too pleased about this. Public pressure prompted the zoo authorities, if only momentarily, to do something about Kaavan.
Power of people can bring change in our society. Just like #FreeKaavantheElephant campaign
Unfortunately good changes stays for kaavan just for few days. Staff only work in response of public pressure.
We request all animals lovers to keep raising voice. @cher @ImranKhanPTI pic.twitter.com/5oiZEZZRF8— HWO Animal Rescue🌐 (@HWOAnimalRescue) July 28, 2019
Is anyone at the Climate Change ministry listening? In the prior weeks, some animals at the Islamabad Zoo have reportedly perished. If the authorities are not interested in keeping these animals, the best thing they could do is release them in their natural habitat.
