KARACHI, July 11: The Karachi zoo administration has decided to ban, from August 1, polythene bags in the premises of the zoo to protect environment and the animals, a zoo official said here on Thursday.

Deputy director of the zoo, Dr Kazim told APP that the decision had been taken in view of several deadly incidents in the past in which animals died after eating polythene bags along with the food offered by the visitors.

He mentioned the death of an ostrich a few years back due to chocked stomach as it had eaten a polythene bag.

Although the administration has already banned the offering of food to the animals by the visitors, people keep violating the ban. “It is not possible for the administration to check this violation all the time and everywhere in the zoo because of shortage of staff,” Dr Kazim said.

He further said the bags also created environmental pollution in the zoo, flying here and there having been thrown after being used.

He said the administration had installed a large number of fibre glass dustbins all around the garden, but people usually did not use them.—APP