It has come to light that the Karachi Zoo might face permanent closure due to the substandard living conditions that the animals in captivity are exposed to. The dire situation came to light following the deteriorating health of a 17-year-old elephant named Noor Jehan. Although the elephant underwent successful surgery, her condition further worsened due to several months of neglect and insufficient care.
As a result of increasing public outcry and involvement of international organizations, Senator Sherry Rehman, the Federal Minister for Climate Change, has urged the provincial government to take action and shut down the zoo. The minister expressed concern over the zoo’s inability to provide adequate care and treatment to the wild animals kept in captivity. In light of this, she has urged the provincial government to take swift action and shut down the zoo permanently.
According to reports, the proposal to relocate animals to more secure locations has gained the support of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari among other officials. The Sindh government is expected to consider the proposal favorably with this backing. Additionally, suggestions have been put forward to repurpose current zoos into rescue and rehabilitation centers as well as botanical gardens for wild flora.
It is worth noting that the unsatisfactory living conditions of wild animals in the Karachi Zoo have caused concern among wildlife experts. These experts have urged for the closure of the zoo and the relocation of the wild animals to sanctuaries.
