A zoo is a place where wild animals are kept so that people can see them up close. There are homes (cages) for these animals that look like their natural habitats. Zoos are not without a purpose, in fact, they serve many purposes — they help take care of endangered animals, teach us about them and do research to learn more about them. When you visit a zoo, you can learn about animals from all around the world and see how they live. This all sounds nice to the ears, but let’s see the real picture in our part of the world.

You might not know or perhaps have never thought about it in this way, that thousands of animals each year are stripped away from their natural habitats and helplessly put behind cages, as a means of entertainment for the public eye. The conditions for many animals in zoos are often far from ideal, resembling prison cells that can cause significant harm to these vulnerable creatures, both mentally and physically. Many animals in zoos endure distressing living conditions and lack the basic necessities for their well-being and survival.

Unfortunately, animal abuse cases in various zoos across Pakistan have only increased in the past few years, despite the efforts of many wildlife organisations working in Pakistan, such as the World Wide Fund (WWF), The Snow Leopard Trust, and The Himalayan Wildlife Foundation. There has still been a lack of implementation of wildlife laws in zoos, which ultimately led to cruel living conditions for animals.

In recent years, the mistreatment of animals in Islamabad Zoo has gathered international attention. While Islamabad Zoo was once a popular destination for families with children, the public remained largely unaware of the suffering endured by the animals kept in captivity. The cruel treatment of these animals has resulted in severe psychological trauma, exemplified by the case of Kaavan, a 32-year-old Asian elephant who was a resident of Islamabad Zoo. For two decades, Kaavan was subjected to barbaric living conditions, including being chained, which ultimately led to his mental distress. Fortunately, following a widespread social media protest, Kaavan was successfully repatriated to his homeland in Cambodia.

However, the animal abuse incidents didn’t stop there, ultimately leading to the closure of the zoo in May 2020 by Islamabad High Court.

In Pakistan, there are over 14 zoos, with 10 of them being government-owned and four privately owned. Zoos in Islamabad have frequently faced criticism for their inadequate treatment of wildlife. Multi Zoo in B17, on the other hand, stands out for its more compassionate approach to the well-being of its animals when compared to other zoos in the city. The enclosures are notably more spacious and numerous signs have been installed to discourage inappropriate visitor behaviour, a common issue in zoos across Pakistan. Multi Zoo represents a significant improvement over Islamabad Zoo, which had gained notoriety for failing to meet even the most basic standards of animal care.

Nonetheless, despite the advantages of Multi Zoo, it still has issues that need to be highlighted in order to protect these defenceless creatures from suffering and torment through the hands of zoos, once again.

If confining animals in small spaces wasn’t enough, zoos often tend to isolate animals from their families, regardless of the fact that it may lead to mental disorders and loneliness. This was noticed in many zoos, including Multi Zoo where, animals such as the llama and pony were kept in solitary and deprived of a companion.

Llamas, in particular, are known for forming strong bonds with a partner, which makes it easy to imagine the loneliness they must experience when they are confined in captivity, far from their natural habitat, solely for the purpose of entertaining humans.

In the past 30 years, the global tiger population has plummeted by 50 percent. About 5,574 tigers remain in the wild, according to the Global Tiger Forum. Regrettably, the endangerment of certain species is primarily the consequence of human activities, such as habitat destruction. Some experts argue that zoos can serve as a relatively ‘safe’ environment for endangered animals, safeguarding them from predators and hunger. Zoos often implement breeding programmes to protect these species, yet the zoos in Pakistan, while well-intentioned, may not have reached the level necessary to provide this level of protection. As a result, this puts the lives of already endangered species at even greater risk.

Additionally, the way people act in Pakistan’s zoos isn’t very good. Visitors often throw trash around and stick their fingers into cages to bother the animals, and nobody, not even the zoo staff, stops them. This thoughtless behaviour makes life harder for the animals. They have to deal with noisy and disruptive visitors, including kids and grown-ups who shine bright lights in their eyes just to get their attention.

Moreover, zoos tend to be particularly appealing to young children who are excited to see animals they have only ever witnessed on television. Some argue that it’s acceptable to keep animals in zoos for educational purposes, especially for children. However, zoos may inadvertently convey a problematic message to young minds. They teach children to overlook the difficulties faced by animals and the pathetic condition they are put into because they are benefiting from it in terms of entertainment. This can be seen as a conflicting lesson that zoos unintentionally promote.

One positive outcome following the closure of Islamabad Zoo in May 2020 is the upcoming transformation of the facility into a conservation centre. In 2021, Pakistan’s Climate Change Ministry initiated plans for a substantial $7.5 million renovation of the zoo with the goal of creating facilities for the treatment and rehabilitation of injured wildlife. This represents a significant stride for Pakistan in its commitment to ending cruelty and establishing a secure environment for wildlife.

Even though there is an undeniable thrill of seeing animals in person, the current treatment of animals in Pakistan zoos is simply not justifiable. The conditions these poor creatures are forced to inhabit are nowhere near the standard of living, and it’s unacceptable that humans are profiting off of this appalling treatment of wildlife.

Fortunately, several wildlife organisations in Pakistan are dedicated to improving the living conditions of animals in zoos. One such organisation is the World-Wide Fund (WWF), which is focused on conserving genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. WWF is actively engaged in enhancing the well-being of Pakistan’s wildlife by collaborating with communities and government agencies to ensure their thriving and preservation.

We bear a responsibility to safeguard wildlife and the environment, ensuring a better world for generations yet to come. It’s high time we acknowledge the pain and suffering endured by animals. Together, we must strive to create a Pakistan free from animal cruelty, dedicated to protecting and conserving our precious wildlife. In the face of the increasing risk of extinction, this mission is now more critical than ever. Let us each do our part and become the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 21st, 2023