Gift from UAE: Lahore Zoo to receive 10 tigers, 8 lions next week
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Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change, Malik Ameen Aslam, on Wednesday announced that eight lions and 10 tigers — a gift from the United Arab Emirates — will be sent to Pakistan next week and kept at the Lahore Zoo.
The adviser said during a press briefing that the 18 big cats are being gifted by UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
According to a press release by the Ministry of Climate Change, the Lahore Zoo came to know that Al Nakhi Wildlife Centre, Dubai was in possession of more than 400 big cats and requested the UAE premier to donate a few to Pakistan.
Read more: The untamed market for wild animals in Pakistan
"After correspondence with the said facility and fulfilling the legal requirements, Lahore Zoo is going to receive the gift," read the statement.
According to the ministry, the microchipped big cats were examined in detail, screened for different diseases by veterinarians in Dubai, and subsequently deemed fit for transportation to Pakistan.
A total of 18 animals — three male and one female white tigers; four male and two female Bengal tigers; and four pairs of African lions — are being sent. All the animals are aged between one to five years.
"Inbreeding is the major issue in big cats in Punjab because the animals already kept by the department have been crossbreeding with their close relatives for years. Due to deleterious effects of inbreeding there are more chances of still births, genetic disorders, low immunity and tendency to accept different diseases more easily among the captive stock of big cats of the department," the press release said, adding that with the impending induction, it will be possible to reduce chances of such issues.
"This gift of big cats will prove a corridor to exchange different species of zoo animals and birds between zoos of Pakistan and Dubai," the press release said.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (58) Closed
Apr 17, 2019 05:29pm
No dollars???
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Apr 17, 2019 05:34pm
Please keep them where they are, there aren’t facilities here in our zoos to take proper care of them.
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Apr 17, 2019 05:35pm
This was much needed for Economy. With these animals revenue ( from tickets ) shortfall for gvt will be managed.
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Apr 17, 2019 05:37pm
Please let them roam free in the wild — the zoo business is killing these majestic animals
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Apr 17, 2019 05:38pm
Ruler of Dubai; Zindabaad. Pak -UAE friendship; Paeendabaad.
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Apr 17, 2019 05:50pm
Does Pakistan have the budget to feed and care for these big cats? It will be nice to know the annual and five yearly budget that will be needed to care for these prized animals. When a common Pakistani citizen is still struggling with feeding his/her family and providing shelter we should be cautious before accepting such high maintenance gifts.
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Apr 17, 2019 05:54pm
It is better to keep them in Dubai. They will die in Lahore Zoo
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Apr 17, 2019 05:57pm
Animals belong in a jungle and not in small cages of Pakistani zoo.
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Apr 17, 2019 06:01pm
Poor Animals.
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Apr 17, 2019 06:06pm
But Why? Did we forgot what happened to other Animals in Pakistani zoos? Lion, Tigers and Elephant all died. Please do not accept it. Save these animals they are better in UAE.
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Apr 17, 2019 06:08pm
These cats need proper safaris to survive or mega zoos. Don't punish them by bringing them to the country.
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Apr 17, 2019 06:16pm
why are their faces covered? Is it an attempt to maintain their privacy?
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Apr 17, 2019 06:20pm
UAE gift of these beautiful animals is greatly appreciated by the people. However, Lahore Zoo must provide these animals their natural environment. That is big open space (fenced) with some trees, small pond etc. They must NOT be kept in small prison like cells with cemented floor? That would be shocking. That would be cruelty to animals which grow up in wilderness. If Lahore Zoo management does not know how to build animal's natural environment, must get advise from other zoos which have such animals. (No cemented or tiled floors and walls please).
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Apr 17, 2019 06:35pm
some UAE prince got rid of its pets
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Apr 17, 2019 06:43pm
We appreciate and value this precious gift big cats from UAE. Hope that Lahore Zoo will make sure that they are looked after well.
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Apr 17, 2019 06:50pm
Beautiful Animals - Thanks UAE
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Apr 17, 2019 07:02pm
Thanks UAE
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Apr 17, 2019 07:09pm
Asked dollars, received pets.
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Apr 17, 2019 07:10pm
Local zoos should have decency to refuse the gift. We know local facilities are not good enough.
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Apr 17, 2019 07:15pm
If poaching of markhor and houbara bustard continued for money than a day will come when UAE will be giving these animals as gift.Save markhor.Save houbara.
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Apr 17, 2019 07:18pm
Put them in open safari zoo, instead of confining them in cages. Also, send few of them to Karachi safari also.
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Apr 17, 2019 07:20pm
@khan , I have seen Lahore Zoo, and some Zoos in US, the Lahore Zoo is a good one, and animals in better shape. I hope the tigers will be happy at their new home. Must thank UAE, and congratulations to Mayor Lahore. BTW the Karachi Zoo needs attention as animals are not in good shape there, had Karachi Zoo be better, there was no reason that UAE may gift some big cats to Karachi too.
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Apr 17, 2019 07:27pm
our Zoos arent capable of handling endangered wild life.
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Apr 17, 2019 07:27pm
The animals are a test only of friendship. Lets see how it goes.
Weigh them before taking to check the quality of care later.
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Apr 17, 2019 07:52pm
Welcome to tigers of PTI.
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Apr 17, 2019 07:53pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, Where is Dollars?
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Apr 17, 2019 07:55pm
@kp, Pakistani zoos may be bad, but zoos anywhere are really cruel. Does Pakistan have a sanctuary where these tigers can be released?
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Apr 17, 2019 08:15pm
Beautiful animals. Wonderful project...
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
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Apr 17, 2019 08:15pm
Now we need another loan to feed these animals?
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Apr 17, 2019 08:21pm
Why the faces of animals are covered?
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Apr 17, 2019 08:31pm
I don't believe in caging animals. They were born free so we have no right to cage them.
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Apr 17, 2019 08:57pm
Not fair to poor cats. They will not be fed proper food there. Should keep them where they are.
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Apr 17, 2019 09:03pm
The Lahore Zoo (or any other Zoo in Pakistan) is not capable to taking care these poor animals.
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Apr 17, 2019 09:13pm
Pl feed them food.
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Apr 17, 2019 09:26pm
Poor animals!
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Apr 17, 2019 09:31pm
What would be better if they could return Pakistani looted wealth which is sitting in Dubai
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Apr 17, 2019 10:05pm
In return you will get what? Licence to hunt endangered spices of birds?
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Apr 17, 2019 10:09pm
Have u seen the size of lahore zoo....theres harldy any place for these cats. Make some room for them to walk freely atleast...poor animals
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Apr 17, 2019 10:34pm
Thanks to the Government of UAE.
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Apr 17, 2019 10:37pm
Release them where they belong. They are no toys to take fun of them. Its cruel
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Apr 17, 2019 11:06pm
Release them where they belong. They are no toys to take fun of them. Its cruel
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Apr 18, 2019 12:05am
@Sanjeev, don't worry. There are lot prisoners from your side.
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Apr 18, 2019 12:09am
Zoo culture must be abolished. Their home is in wild.
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Apr 18, 2019 12:27am
Feel sorry for the Lions. Hopefully they will be taken care of.
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Apr 18, 2019 12:33am
Hope they don’t die because of not enough funds and poor facilities.
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Apr 18, 2019 01:21am
I have seen animals in the zoo. They are starved and one can see just ribs and bones of these animals.
All meat meant for animals goes to the homes of employees
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Apr 18, 2019 02:10am
Is Pakistan capable to take care of these cats?
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Apr 18, 2019 03:29am
@Rabia, Because of lights. Big cats like natural light and darkness.
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Apr 18, 2019 03:53am
@khan , I hope and pray that the Lahore Zoo management is well equipped to handle such Gift and will these tigers and lions be taken good care.
According to info Lahore Zoo does not have professional Veterinary doctor's nor facilities to handle such animals . Rather Lahore Zoo might cause big embarrassement for PM Imran Khan.
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Apr 18, 2019 04:44am
“Inbreeding is the major issue in big cats in Punjab because the animals already kept by the department have been crossbreeding with their close relatives for years. Due to deleterious effects of inbreeding there are more chances of still births, genetic disorders, low immunity and tendency to accept different diseases more easily among the captive stock of big cats of the department,”
This is also tru in humans.
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Apr 18, 2019 05:15am
Why can't the animals breed with animals from other Pakistani zoos?
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Apr 18, 2019 05:15am
@khan , agree
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Apr 18, 2019 05:17am
@Vayuputra, markhor are hunted with auctioned permits, hobara with permits.
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Apr 18, 2019 05:18am
@Javed, agree. We don't have a proper safari park for these animals and Lahore is too hot.
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Apr 18, 2019 05:20am
@Rabia, yes, courts gave them a restraining order, while issuing bail to Zardaris, Talpur and Sharifs.
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Apr 18, 2019 05:23am
Wow
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Apr 18, 2019 08:37am
@Zahid , you neiled it. But this beautiful creatures need care . Hope they r in right place.
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Apr 18, 2019 12:03pm
It is amazing news to me because I like big cats. big lions will support govt. to generate good revenue to run the govt.
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