Boston, MA, Aug. 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boston, MA August 31, 2020 – Shocking footage of two lions fighting a fire in their small enclosure at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad has called global animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS and local authorities to action.
Inexperienced animal handlers set the fire in an attempt to force the big cats into transport crates. Unfortunately, both lions died as a result of smoke inhalation.
The lions were being transferred after a ground-breaking decision was made by the High Court in Islamabad to close the underfunded Marghazar Zoo. The decision was reached this past May because of the zoo’s insufficient keeping conditions.
Now FOUR PAWS, the Pakistani Ministry of Climate Change, and the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) are working together to safely relocate the remaining zoo animals. There are over 30 animals - two Himalayan brown bears, three wolves, twelve monkeys, one deer, and over fourteen rabbits – waiting to be saved.
An experienced team of FOUR PAWS veterinarians and experts, including Dr. Amir Khalil, are currently on site to prepare the animals for their departure. Unfortunately, poor keeping conditions have left their mark on the zoo animals.
“Before the two bears came to the zoo, they were forced to perform as so-called ‘dancing bears’ and their teeth had been removed. Together with the zoo vet, we already had to perform an emergency surgery on the female bear as she had a severely infected wound resulting from a recent tumour removal,” remarked Mission Leader and FOUR PAWS Veterinarian Dr. Amir Khalil. “We have also noticed serious behavioural disorders in all of the animals. They are apathetic and at times aggressive.”
Among the more than 30 animals is elephant Kaavan, who achieved worldwide fame thanks to an international rescue campaign.
Kaavan came to Pakistan as a gift from Sri Lanka in 1985. The elephant shared an enclosure at the Marghazar Zoo with his partner Saheli until her death in 2012. For eight long years Kaavan has lived a lonely existence.
In 2016, an international campaign to save Kaavan was launched. When the court in Islamabad ruled the closure of the zoo in May 2020, it was also decided that Kaavan should be taken to an animal sanctuary in or outside Pakistan, contingent on his medical condition. FOUR PAWS is now supporting the Pakistani government with the assessment of the elephant’s health status. Depending on the results, Kaavan might be relocated to a sanctuary later in the year. His future depends on the results of the medical exams being conducted by FOUR PAWS.
“We are grateful that the FOUR PAWS experts are in Islamabad to assist the local authorities with the medical assessment and relocation of the remaining animals at Marghazar Zoo,” shared Dr Anis ur Rahman, Chairman of IWMB. “These animals deserve a better future and we are happy to make this possible.”
"Our global FOUR PAWS team of animal experts and veterinarians are dedicated to bringing compassion and urgent care to animals in need anywhere in the world. We specialize in addressing some of the most challenging and unique animal welfare issues, often times going where no one else can or will go," stated Danika Oriol-Morway, FOUR PAWS USA Country Director.
The History of Marghazar Zoo
The 69 acre Marghazar Zoo was originally opened in 1978 as a wildlife sanctuary in the Margalla Hills in Islamabad, but was later converted to a zoo. The zoo has been owned by the Pakistani capital Islamabad since its establishment.
In the past four years, over two dozen animals have died at Marghazar Zoo, including six lion cubs. The zoo’s inadequate keeping conditions have repeatedly made international headlines. In 2016, FOUR PAWS was on site, mainly to assess the health status of elephant Kaavan, and wrote a comprehensive report on the improvement of the keeping conditions, which has not been implemented to date.
About FOUR PAWS International
FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organization for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler, the organization advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. FOUR PAWS’ sustainable campaigns and projects focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats, orangutans and elephants – kept in inappropriate conditions, as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in the United States, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, Hungary, the UK, and Vietnam, as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in twelve countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.us
Copyright: © FOUR PAWS
For direct questions and additional photo requests, please contact Danika Oriol-Morway at danika.oriol-morway@four-paws.org.
Contact:
Danika Oriol-Morway
FOUR PAWS International
danika.oriol-morway@four-paws.org
617-549-9954
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