LAHORE: The Wildlife director general constituted on Tuesday an inquiry committee to probe into giraffe’s death at the Lahore Zoo. The committee will submit its report in three days.

The giraffe was found dead in the zoo early on Monday by a zoo keeper. The zoo officials said the animal had died of heart attack.

DG Khalid Ayaz Khan recently visited various places in Punjab having wildlife offices and facilities and warned of a strict action against carelessness in duties.

Read: Last giraffe at Lahore zoo dies of heart attack

The inquiry committee has three members - director of wildlife and parks Agha Aizaz Ibrahim (chairman), deputy director of Punjab Wildlife Department headquarters Naeem Bhatti (member) and in charge of pet centre of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Dr Asim Khalid (member).

Mr Khan told Dawn on Tuesday he would check if vets at the zoo were doing their job properly and blood sampling of animals was being carried out regularly.

He said he would ensure proper medical facilities at all wildlife centers. He hoped a new pair of giraffes would arrive at the zoo before June. The authorities had imported three giraffes in 2007, after a gap of 13 years.

None of the wild parks or zoos in Pakistan has any giraffe now. When this male giraffe, popularly known as Sunny, was alive, an order had been placed for a female giraffe by the Zoo Management Committee, Naeem Bhatti, deputy director of the Punjab Wildlife Department headquarters, told Dawn.

He said the order for a giraffe pair had to be placed again. A pair of giraffes cost around Rs10 million, he said.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2015

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