PESHAWAR: Another giraffe died in Peshawar zoo on Monday.

It is the second death of wild animals in the facility within two weeks.

A zoo official told Dawn that the male giraffe had been suffering from intestinal infection for one week and was under treatment in the zoo.

“The animal was not feeling well and expired on Monday,” he said.

The official said samples were collected from the carcass and were sent to the National Veterinary Laboratory, Islamabad, and Veterinary Research Institute, Peshawar, for examination.

He said the lab reports would determine the exact cause of the giraffe’s death.

It was the third giraffe, which has died in the zoo during the current year.

A three-year-old giraffe was found dead in last June and another in April. Officials said the zoo was left with two female giraffes only.

“We are now concerned about the remaining giraffes,” said an official.

Sources said a black bear died in the zoo a few days ago. However, the cause of death is still not known.

Two black bear cubs were shifted to the zoo after their confiscation by the customs officials at the Torkham border crossing last week. The animals were smuggled from Afghanistan.

The animal rights activists have been campaigning for the condition of animals kept in Peshawar zoo.

A petition about issues of the Peshawar zoo, including animal deaths and qualification of staff members, especially veterinarians, has been pending with the Peshawar High Court.

On different occasions, the court expressed displeasure with the state of affairs in the zoo. Civil society groups have filed the petition.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2020