A 20-year-old Bengal tiger at the Bahawalpur zoo fell ill and a video of the tiger’s condition went viral on social media, raising concerns from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The Bengal tiger, which was moved to Bahawalpur Zoo from Lahore in 2010, is reported to be in deteriorating health, with one of its eyes damaged and other health problems visible.
WWF Pakistan Director Hammad Naqi expressed concern over the state of the tiger and urged authorities to take immediate action in line with the guidelines set by the World Zoo Association.
He emphasized that sick and elderly animals should not be put on public display and that urgent attention is needed for the welfare of animals in zoos, Express News reported.
Photo: ARCHIVE1736241222-0/PAkGazette-N-(4)1736241222-0.jpg)
Photo: ARCHIVE
On the other hand, Bahawalpur Deputy Director of Wildlife Syed Ali Usman clarified that the tiger, which had been brought from Lahore, was suffering from age-related difficulties.
He explained that Bengal tigers in the wild usually live 10 to 15 years, while in captivity they can live up to 20 years. Due to old age, the tiger has difficulty walking and its hind legs are weak and the lower part of the body is drooping.
The tiger is dewormed and examined periodically. As part of his diet, he is provided with minced meat and vitamins.
Syed Ali Usman further stated that the tiger goes outdoors every day to expose it to sunlight and fresh air to maintain its health.
Special measures have been taken to care for the tiger and its health is being closely monitored at the Bahawalpur Zoo.
Earlier, visitors to Lahore Zoo were in for an unpleasant surprise on New Year’s Day when a new entry fee structure sparked widespread protests.
The private company that now runs the zoo, under a Rs 500 million contract, introduced an additional charge, raising the entry fee to Rs 300.
Families from several cities who visited the zoo expressed outrage at the fee increase, and many decided to leave in protest.
The company that manages the zoo took over operations, including entrances and parking, on January 1.
Furthermore, the trend of breeding wild animals, especially big cats, is increasing among common people in the city, while wildlife breeding centers built in urban settlements are also becoming a major source of threat to the public.
An African lion was shot dead in Harbanspura area of Lahore. The African lion had escaped from an illegal breeding facility built in the urban area and was shot dead by the breeding security guard.
Earlier, a female leopard was shot dead on Bedian Road after entering a private farm.
During the investigation it came to light that the female leopard had escaped a few days before being killed from a private wild animal breeding farm located in the Kahna area.
Fortunately, there were no reports of any human harm caused by these dangerous animals, but the news of their escape from breeding farms definitely caused panic among the locals.
