Mehwish Hayat has requested authorities to close all zoos across the country, saying “animals are born free”.
Sharing a news article about the relocation of animals from Islamabad Marghazar Zoo, Mehwish commented: “In a country where we’re still fighting for human rights, animal rights are a long way off.”
Hinting towards Kaavan’s recent relocation to Cambodia after an intense campaign led by US pop icon Cher, Mehwish further wrote: “Why do we only take action when foreign celebrities get involved?”
“This is so embarrassing,” she added.
In a country where we’re still fighting for human rights,animal rights are a long way off. But come on,why do we only take action when foreign celebrities get involved?This is so embarrassing.Animals are born free- the authorities must shut these zoos now!https://t.co/jY6MzNXu7W
Meanwhile, Islamabad Zoo’s last remaining animals Bubloo and Suzie are all set to leave for Jordan on December 17. The Islamabad High Court in its order had stated that the zoo was not fit enough for animals and had requested authorities to move all animals there to temporary sanctuaries.
We are happy that the Ministry of Climate Change & the IWMB took yet another decision in favour of animal welfare. This week we will bring the bears to its Jordanian sanctuary Al Ma’Wa for Nature and Wildlife, which is run together by Princess Alia Foundation.
Islamabad Zoo’s last remaining animals Bubloo and Suzie are all set to leave for Jordan on December 17. The two Himalayan bears were initially scheduled to leave Pakistan on December 10, but the government had barred the animals from leaving at the last moment despite court orders.
There, Suzie and Bubloo will find a species-appropriate home and the proper care they urgently need. Thanks again to the Pakistani authorities and community for their ongoing support in providing a better future for wildlife. : Hristo Vladev | FOUR PAWS
In a written order, the court said: “The natural habitat of Suzie and Bubloo was the high altitude plateau of Deosai National Park in the Himalayas. It was indeed inhumane to have deprived them of living in their natural habitat merely for the entertainment of the human species.”
“They have remained caged in the Marghazar Zoo for more than a decade. A zoo, no matter how well equipped, is no less than a concentration camp for living beings. They were born free and taking them out of their natural habitat and caging them was in violation of the natural rights bestowed upon them by the Creator.”
“They have suffered enough and they lack the ability to let the human species know what they must have gone through. Their abnormal behaviour while imprisoned was sufficient to speak volumes for the unimaginable pain and suffering.”
“The relocation of Kaavan the elephant, and the two Himalayan brown bears, Suzie and Bubloo, to appropriate sanctuaries has set a precedent for others to follow. They will always represent the people of Pakistan and their resolve to treat living species with respect and dignity,” it added.
The transfer of the former dancing bears to Jordan was first announced in early October, with the Jordanian government saying it would facilitate the relocation. Back then Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) Chairman Dr Anisur Rehman had said that the two bears, including their import and export permits, are ready. He had said that he is confident that the bears will receive better psychological and physical treatment in the sanctuary abroad.
“The bear sanctuary is looked after by the (Jordanian) king’s aunt, Princess Alia, and she has given us an import permit within a day,” Dr Rehman had shared.
It was earlier reported that the bears are not being moved to Jordan permanently. They will reportedly be flown back to Islamabad once they have fully recovered and their enclosures at Islamabad Zoo are ready. Animals at the Islamabad Zoo are being relocated after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled that the zoo is not fit enough for them and lacks the necessary facilities.
Both the Himalayan brown bears suffer from psychological problems due to living in a substandard enclosure, with the female Suzie undergoing major surgery in the summer after a tumour was removed from her chest. Local vets were unable to stitch up seven inches open cut in the centre of her chest and she developed an infection. Four Paws vets, who arrived in August, operated on Suzie again and cleaned the infected wound. This was also the reason why sanctuaries within Pakistan refused to take them in.
“She is now recovering and healthy. Both bears are doing well physically now that we have put them on a better nutritional diet of fruits and vegetables. Suzie had diarrhea all the time because she was mostly fed milk,” a spokesperson for Four Paws, Marion Lombard, told local media outlets.
Friends of Islamabad Zoo (FIZ), who have been campaigning for the animals, in a note posted to social media, also addressed those who said that the bears should have been moved to a local sanctuary instead of an international one.
“Both the bears have no teeth and have been dependent on humans since birth,” wrote the animal rights body. “They will not be able to survive wild in the Deosai Plains and will need constant care.”
“Other than that from what we were told, Deosai now has 76 bears and adding two bears with no experience of living with other bears won’t be able to survive and will need to be kept confined.”
FIZ said that Al Ma’wa for Nature and Wildlife is the ideal place for the two bears because it is located 3500 feet above sea level, double the height of Islamabad and is climatically suited to Himalayan brown bears. They added that their facilities are top-class and the bears will be well taken care of there.
Meanwhile, speaking to a local media publication, veterinarian Dr Amir Khalil, who is overlooking the bears move to Jordan, expressed his relief over the decision and said that Suzie and Bubloo would find a species-appropriate home and proper care in Jordan. Dr Khalil also oversaw the relocation of Kaavan to Cambodia.
“As a vet, I am delighted that in the end, humanity and the bears are the winners,” Khalil said.
Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo’s two Himalayan brown bears are all set to fly to Jordan in 10 days, while Kaavan, the zoo’s lone elephant, is expected to leave for Cambodia by the end of November.
According to reports, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) Chairman Dr Anisur Rehman has said that the two bears, including their import and export permits, are ready. He said that he is confident that the bears will receive better psychological and physical treatment in the sanctuary abroad.
“The bear sanctuary is looked after by the (Jordanian) king’s aunt, Princess Alia, and she has given us an import permit within a day,” shared Dr Rehman.
Dr Rehman also shared that they have also received the import permit for Kaavan which means the Cambodian government is willing to accept and introduce the 45-year-old elephant into one of its sanctuaries.
“This is the first time that animals from Pakistan are being taken abroad for rest and recreation and health recovery,” Dr Rehman shared, adding: “The government realises that animals need first-class attention, which these captive animals will receive.”
Suzi
However, the bears are not being moved to Jordan permanently. According to Dr Rehman, the bears will be flown back to Islamabad once they have fully recovered and their enclosures at Islamabad Zoo are ready. Animals at the Islamabad Zoo are being relocated to temporary sanctuaries after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled that the zoo is not fit enough for them and lacks the necessary facilities.
Both the Himalayan brown bears suffer from psychological problems due to living in a substandard enclosure, with the female undergoing major surgery due to her critical condition. This was also the reason why sanctuaries within Pakistan refused to take them in.
Dr Frank Goritz, head veterinarian at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin, treats Suzi on Sept. 22
Meanwhile, Friends of Islamabad Zoo (FIZ), who have been campaigning for the animals, appreciated the decision to move the bears to Jordan. In a note posted to social media, they addressed those who said that the bears should have been moved to a local sanctuary instead of an international one.
“Both the bears have no teeth and have been dependent on humans since birth,” wrote the animal rights body. “They will not be able to survive wild in the Deosai Plains and will need constant care.”
“Other than that from what we were told, Deosai now has 76 bears and adding two bears with no experience of living with other bears won’t be able to survive and will need to be kept confined.”
FIZ said that Al Ma’wa for Nature and Wildlife is the ideal place for the two bears because it is located 3500 feet above sea level, double the height of Islamabad and is climatically suited to Himalayan brown bears. They added that their facilities are top-class and the bears will be well taken care of there.
The management of the zoo is providing extra care to the cubs.
Meanwhile, citizens also rushed to the zoo to see the newborn cubs.
Earlier this year, a lioness had given birth to twin cubs at Verhari Zoo. District Wildlife Officer (DWO) Mian Munir Ahmed had confirmed that the lioness had given birth to twin healthy cubs after 12 years.
With the addition of the newborn twin cubs, Vehari Zoo became the first Zoo of South Punjab to house seven lions.
After being forced shut due to the coronavirus pandemic, a zoo in northern Germany is facing so much financial pressure it may end up feeding its animals to each other in a worst-case scenario.
According to reports, Neumünster zoo, in Schleswig-Holstein, has been closed since March 15. The zoo relies entirely on donations and entry fees to feed some 700 animals which include arctic foxes, maned wolves, seals and Germany’s biggest polar bear Vitus. It has not yet received any emergency aid promised by the federal government.
Zoo director Verena Kaspari told the media, “If — and this is really the worst, worst case — if I run out of money to buy food, or if it should happen that my food supplier can no longer deliver due to new restrictions, I would slaughter animals to feed the other animals.”
“We currently have funds that would bring us by around mid-May,” she added.
As part of Kaspari’s worst-case-scenario plan, goats and deer would be killed first and the polar bear Vitus — which stands nearly 12 feet tall — would be the last animal to go. She assured that none of the animals slaughtered would be an endangered species.
On March 31, the association representing 56 major zoos in Germany, including Neumünster, called on the government to release $100 million to save the industry.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Yvonne Würz, told DW that “population management” was “nothing new for zoos.”
“Zoos are funded through and live from tiny baby animals. When there is not enough space for the animals they are often killed for food [for other animals],” said Würz.
She explained that some zoos are transparent about the numbers of animals they kill each year. The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria estimates between 3,000 and 5,000 animals are killed in European zoos each year.
