ISLAMABAD: A zebra has died at the Marghazar Zoo, the second in three months in addition to an ostrich which died a month ago, reportedly due to negligence by the zoo staff.

Zoo Director Mohammad Irfan said the Zebra died on Sunday and that the cause of death is yet to be determined. He added that the animal’s body was moved to a laboratory for an autopsy.

“After we get the autopsy report, we will take action against the concerned officials,” he said.

When asked about the zebra which died in March this year, followed by the death of an ostrich in May, he said: “I just took charge as director a week ago. I am not aware of [these deaths].”

Mr Irfan’s predecessor Abdul Rashid Khan said he had moved the bodies of the zebra which had died earlier and of the ostrich to the laboratory for an autopsy.

“I do not know if the veterinary officer brought back an autopsy report as he did not show anything to me,” he said, adding that both times, he had recommended the initiation of inquiries, which was not done.

“I wrote to the Deputy Director Zoo Iftikhar Awan and I have no idea whether he ordered an inquiry, but during my time at the zoo, no one asked me anything which means the inquiries were not initiated,” he said.

The zoo employs a veterinary doctor, Dr Bilal who, according to zoo officials, takes more interest in other activities including looking after animal feed and storage than his job. The doctor also holds charge as deputy director zoo, which is an administrative job, one that keeps him from properly treating animals.

The 25 acre Marghazar Zoo, which was first opened in 1978, has been criticised recently due to the poor conditions in which animals are made to live.

At present, the zoo is home to 824 birds of 42 species and 95 animals, not all of which are open to public viewing. And despite protests held across the globe in regards to the plight of animals which live at the zoo, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), which is running the affairs of the zoo, is yet to improve the living conditions of the animals or other facilities at the zoo.

Human rights activists have also spoken up about Kavaan, the lone elephant, whose partner Saheli died in 2012, also reportedly due to negligence by the zoo staff. Kavaan has only recently been unchained and has been living in a shabby three-walled structure. He broke the fence around his enclosure recently, with zoo staff saying he acted out because of the high temperatures, inadequate facilities and because he is alone. CDA is yet to make good on the promised they made of expanding the elephant’s enclosure and bringing him a partner.

Instead of expanding the zoo, the CDA said it will upgrade the zoo through the Design, Build, Operate and Transfer initiative.

According to CDA officials, the civic authority did not receive any queries about the project for upgrading the zoo though the Ad had specified June 30 as the last date of submitting an interest. The deadline has therefore been extended to July 20.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2016