'The zoo's boundary wall is in bad shape because of salty land on which it had been constructed. The visitors have no facility to get potable water or use toilet. The only tubewell the department had sunk here has been out of order.' — APP/File Photo

RAHIM YAR KHAN The zoological garden is fast becoming jungle owing to the negligence of the wildlife department. The number of visitors to the zoo has drastically declined over the last few months. 

Established by the Punjab Wildlife Department in 1986 over 15.5 acres on Katcha Sadiqabad Road, the zoo was meant for breeding of animals and birds. One of the main reasons that keep the people away is the rundown six-kilometre passage that leads to the zoo.

District Officer (Wildlife) Muhammad Ayub Sabir told this correspondent that the curators were facilitating breeding of animals and birds in the beginning, but shortage of funds forced them to shift a number of animals and birds to zoological gardens in Lahore and Bahawalpur. 

He said the wildlife department had provided only Rs410,000 to the local wildlife park since its establishment. The zoo acquired a large number of bears, deer, blue cows, monkey, baboons, peacocks and some rare bird species to attract the people. However, he said, the department had failed to maintain it.

As many as 25 deer, 18 blue cows, 10 monkeys, seven spotted bucks, 20 peacocks, and a baboon are all the zoo currently has to entertain people. As the cages of monkeys are broken, they can come out any time and harm the picnickers, he said, adding that the quarters for the zoo staff also were in a dilapidated condition. 

'The zoo's boundary wall is in bad shape because of salty land on which it had been constructed. The visitors have no facility to get potable water or use toilet. The only tubewell the department had sunk here has been out of order.'

He also said the lawn of the zoo had dried up because it was situated at the tail-end of the canal whose water is not available. He suggested that if the WLP was shifted to some other place like Rahim Yar Khan bypass or Abu Dhabi Road near the city, the public could be provided with better facilities and entertainment.

According to an official, hardly Rs200,000 had been spent on the zoo since its establishment. The district government, he said, was not interested in investing in the facility.