BAHAWALPUR: Two cubs at the Bahawalpur Zoo died on Saturday.

The zoo had four cubs one of which had been killed by the lioness soon after its birth and two others have died now.

The lioness, Rani, gave birth in captivity to four cubs on Sept 9.

According to curator Naveed Tariq, the lioness instead of feeding attempted to eat one of the cubs which suffered injuries and was separated from her. It succumbed to injuries after some time.

Afterwards, he said, the lioness stopped feeding the three cubs which were shifted from her cage. He said special milk was brought for them from Islamabad during the period they were not fed by the lioness but could not survive. The facility now has one cub which, the curator says, is in good health.

Speaking to Dawn, the curator denied negligence as members of the civil society and animal lovers alleged killing of the cubs in captivity and demanded an inquiry into alleged negligence of the zoo staff.

MENTAL HEALTH DAY: Functions in connection with the World Mental Heath Day were held here on Saturday.

A walk under the auspices of the Quaid-i-Azam Medical College (QAMC) psychiatry department was organised from the Bahawal Victoria Hospital to the QAMC and Circular Road.

QAMC Principal Prof Dr Khwaja Haroon Khursheed Pasha led the walk and urged the authorities to ensure counseling of students by psychologists in schools to provide them relief in these depressing times.

Minister of State for Education Baleeghur Rehman presided over an international conference on mental health held under the auspices of the Pakistan Psychological Society (PPS). The delegates from home and abroad read papers with the help of slides.

SCHOOL EVENT: The Sadiq Public School organised its annual swimming gala and fancy dress show on Saturday.

Schoolchildren won applause from the audience for various activities.

Senator Saood Majid Chaudhry and SPS Principal Prof Nauman Ahmed Qureshi gave away prizes.

ACCIDENT: Two persons were killed in an accident while on their way to Rahim Yar Khan from Bahawalpur on Saturday.

The deceased were identified as Mushtaq Ahmad and his son Bilal Ahmad.

Published in Dawn, October 11th , 2015

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