Animal Suffering at Karachi Zoo

Last week in Karachi's Zoological Garden a puma died. While the authorities claim that it died of lung failure, no one seemed too willing to spill the beans on as to what really the cause was. Almost a month before that it was a black leopard that died (causes of its death were claimed to be TB). Prior to these deaths other animals have also died, more likely out of sheer neglect or because of illness (as the zoo authorities like to claim). Animals that died in Karachi Zoo over the past year include pelicans, llamas, a tigress, a bear, a female leopard, a lion, two baby chimpanzees, pumas, zebras and an ostrich. Also the much celebrated zoo elephant, the famous Anarkali also died sometime back in the zoo.

While the zoo was renovated a few years back, no real care of the animals in the zoo is being taken. There are injured animals with deformities, animals that are overfed and creatures whose health seem to decline soon after they reach the zoo. The main reason for this being that the zoo staff does not really know how to properly take care of these animals.

But the zoo authorities are not the only culprits. Visitors at the zoo can usually be seen throwing garbage at the animals, poking them with sticks and catcalling. Must the poor captivated animals be treated like that? It's really a sad state of affairs. Currently the zoo is also understaffed and lacks animal doctors.

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Adabdoned Animal? Call 115!

For those of us who can't stand the sight of abandoned or injured street animals around Karachi, call the Edhi Animal Shelter at 115 . Currently the shelter has 2 vehicles dedicated solely to animal rescue. Once you have placed your call, the animal shelter people will come to pick up the abandoned or injured street animal and transport them to the shelter. Animals including dogs, cats, birds and donkeys etc. are taken by the shelter.

However, one drawback to this service at the moment is that once the animal reaches Edhi Animal Shelter it just might not get the needed medical care required, especially if it's an emergency case. The shelter often does not have a veterinarian available to respond to medical emergencies. The best they are doing at the moment is to transport the animals to the shelter where a vet tends to visit occasionally, but for animals injured badly or in need of medical emergency, calling the shelter is probably not the best choice. There is just one guard for the place and no real caretaker for the animals. Also even if you manage to send an animal there, there are no guarantees that it will be treated.

Unfortunately as there are no other animal shelters in the city this is the best there is and the only hope for at least the abandoned animals. Rest assured, the animals are fed there and can at least find a safe place away from the harsh city life and animal cruelty.

You can help by sending your donations to Edhi specifically for the Animal Shelter so that it can become a proper facility. Efforts need to be made on a larger scale and more people are required come and to volunteer or help in any possible way that they can to save the street animals from cruelty and assist in making such a place a proper facility.