LAHORE:
Throughout the country, a growing number of well -intentioned individuals are feeding street cats, birds and wild animals wherever they find them, offering any food they have on hand. But wildlife experts warn that this act of charity may be doing more damage than well.
Animals in nature, and even those in captivity, are the most suitable for foods found in their natural habitats, said experts in veterinarians to express tribute. The human food, they added, can interrupt their diets, weaken their ability to fodder or hunt, and expose them to the disease.
In the tourist areas of the North and urban centers such as Lahore, the growing tendency to feed wild animals, from monkeys and pigeons to cheats and eagles, is giving alarms among conservationists. While many do it to capture memorable photos or as a gesture of charity, experts warn that practice could have long -term consequences for health and animal behavior.
In regions such as Galiyat, the wild monkeys have learned to snatch the food from visitors, while in Lahore, the locals routinely leave the millet and the water trays for birds outside their homes. They have even observed that predatory birds, such as eagles, eliminate it near crowded roads such as Channel Road and the Ravi River bridge, attracted by the easy availability of foods provided by humans.
Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, professor at the Institute of Zoology at the University of Punjab, said that wild animals have survived for centuries in what their natural habitats provide. “These creatures are accustomed to food nature.
Fahad Malik, who directs a conservation group, said that regular hand food interrupts the natural instincts of animals. “When animals are customary to be fed by people, they tend to abandon their natural hunting habits. This dependence can be dangerous, especially if the food provided by humans suddenly stops. In addition, animals that lose their natural fear of humans are more likely to conflict with conflict with people,” he said.
When commenting on the practice, Dr. Rizwan Khan, a senior veterinary officer of the Wildlife of Punjab, warned that feeding wild animals increases the risk of zoonotic diseases and accidental injuries. “Wild animals that have been conditioned to approach humans for foods often roam near the roads, which increases their accidents of accidents. Their digestive systems are not designed for processed human foods, which puts them at a greater risk of illness,” he said.
