KARACHI: As a committee investigating the recent death of five zoo animals is set to hold its first meeting today (Friday), reports of two injured black bucks emerged on Thursday.

One of the animals, an adult male, with visible signs of puncture wounds on the lower part of its neck, belly and leg was found limping in its enclosure during a zoo visit.

According to sources, the animal has received the injuries in a ‘fight’ after the incident which claimed lives of five animals of the same species.

The other black buck reportedly being treated in the zoo clinic couldn’t be traced as all rooms with animal cages were locked and the staff had left for the day when the Dawn team reached there at 5.15pm after getting approval from the zoo director for staff support during the visit.

“No animal is injured or under treatment here. An investigation into the death of three black backs has started and we will submit our report to the inquiry committee tomorrow,” replied zoo director Fahim Khan when asked about the injured animals.

He also denied reports that three black bucks, which got injured due to collision with grille during the stray dog attack, had died later.

Inquiry into deaths

Surprisingly, the inquiry committee set up by the commissioner of Karachi to probe the deaths of five black bucks doesn’t have any member with professional expertise in wildlife.

The committee members are: the deputy commissioner (district South), the director of the livestock department, the senior director of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the director of zoo and Safari Park (who have no animal/wildlife background) and a representative of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The body has been tasked with ascertaining the cause of death of animals, fixing responsibility, proposing action against officials responsible for the incident and making recommendations for the safety of animals and prevention of such incidents in future.

The committee is required to submit its report within a week to the commissioner.

It is wozrth noting that five black bucks were reportedly mauled to death in their enclosure by stray dogs late on Sunday night. The zoo officials, however, claim that only three black bucks had died in what they described as ‘mutual fight’.

An ungulate species of antelope, black bucks are native to the subcontinent. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the black buck as near threatened since 2003 as its range had decreased sharply during the 20th century.

The endangered species is protected under the Sindh Wildlife Protection Ordinance, 1972.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2016