LAHORE, Nov 9: More than 100 crippled birds in captive breeding are kept in a painful state at different parks and zoos of the Punjab Wildlife Department owing to ‘indecisiveness of the quarters concerned.’

No decision has been taken on their culling despite the passage of several years.

Talking to this reporter, wildlife officials say red tape is the basic reason for the delay in their culling. They say powers for culling such animals rest with the wildlife secretary or the director general.

Some 60 disabled birds are kept in the Jallo breeding farm and almost the same number is caged in other zoos and parks of the wildlife department. There are multiple reasons for their physical disorders, but the two main causes of their disability are the breeding methodology and the feed deficiency. There have been numerous complaints at different parks and zoos of the wildlife department about feed deficiency among birds. Some birds get disabled by accident.

A wildlife official seeking anonymity says the deputy director should be authorised to take quick decision on such issues. “At present, only the secretary or the DG can order their culling.”

He says the international practices for such birds are that zoos or parks keep a photo record of disabled birds and animals and cull them if they are in a state of acute pain.

Wildlife, Forest and Fisheries Secretary Shahnawaz Badar says it is the duty of the in-charge of a wildlife park or a zoo to inform the director general about the crippled birds. “The DG is the operational boss of the wildlife department and he is supposed to take such decisions.”

The secretary says the breeding methodology is the main reason for the crippling of animals and the wildlife department is trying to overcome this issue.

“I have sought proposals from the Lahore Zoo director and directors of other parks in this regard.” — Shoaib Ahmed.