ISLAMABAD: Due to the apathy of the officials concerned, the condition of the Marghzar Zoo in Islamabad could not be improved even after years.

Internal politics in the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has taken a heavy toll on the male elephant (Kawan), the only attractive animal in the zoo.

Some officers of the environment wing of the CDA have been considering unchaining the elephant and allowing it to move freely in the enclosure.

But others are against the proposal because they believe that any attempt to unchain the animal without proper arrangements would lead to a fatal incident as the aggressive elephant had already killed an employee of the zoo in 1992. Moreover, after unchaining the elephant, it will become difficult to ensure that the animal is washed every day to keep it cool in the summer.

An official of the CDA requesting not to be identified said because of the similar politics the female elephant (Saheli) died in 2012.

Kawan the elephant falls victim to internal politics within the civic agency

“During the extreme heat, animals, especially elephants, need to be kept cool by sending them to a pool or by washing them through water pipes. Moreover, elephants prefer to stand in a shade but in the zoo the shade made of iron sheets becomes very hot in the summer.” The official said instead of resolving such issues, the management initially decided to carry out construction work near the boundary wall of the enclosure and then renovate the old walls of the elephant shade.

“There are two mahouts but it becomes very difficult to handle the 31-year-old elephant during the absence of one of them. A few days ago, the elephant suddenly turned aggressive and hit the wall of its enclosure and damaged it.”

He said the gate of the enclosure was just four feet high and not strong enough to contain the elephant, so visitors can also be hurt by the animal.

The management has been considering winding barbed wires on the gate but that can hurt the elephant, he said.

During a visit to the zoo, Dawn found most of the cages in a vulnerable condition. The water supply line to the elephant enclosure was broken. There were also a few monkeys in their enclosure.

An animal expert working with the CDA told Dawn on the condition of anonymity that an elephant cannot bear the summer heat. Even if the animal is unchained, the management should ensure that it is shifted to the pond every day. If a male elephant is left under an iron roof, it will get suffocated leading to a heart attack.

Moreover, there are two rooms in the enclosure of the elephant in which goods, including food, are stored. In case of unchaining the elephant, a separate room outside the enclosure should be constructed, he said.

“At the moment, the project director of the zoo, Abdul Rasheed, who has an experience in the construction work, is looking after the zoo. Moreover, he is not a permanent employee of the CDA. An officer having experience in dealing with animals should be given the charge of the zoo,” he said.

When contacted, Mr Rasheed said he was busy and would call back in a while. However, till filing of this report on Sunday night, the official did not call back.

The CDA member environment, Syed Mustafain Kazmi, told Dawn that it had been decided that the elephant would be unchained. But before unchaining the animal, he added, all the necessary arrangements would be made.

“An amount of Rs2.5 million has been spent on the construction of the elephant mod while the enclosure is being renovated. Other cages and the entrance area of the zoo will also be renovated,” he said.

In reply to a question, Mr Kazmi said a tarpal would be placed on the iron roof of the elephant shade to keep it cool.

“Mr Rasheed has only the look-after charge of the zoo and I have been looking for someone with an experience in the field of animals for the post,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2015

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