THE Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government wants to build a new zoo in Mansehra. This is despite the fact that experts have told the government that the animals will not survive the hot weather of the area. But the government wants to move the animals to Kalam each summer and then bring them down in the winters. It wants to take on this extra cost and burden because it wants the local people to be educated in wildlife and environmental protection.

Although the government’s intentions are laudable, its method is not. I think the government should consider setting up a museum at Mansehra instead of a costly zoo. A museum will not have a high running cost and will attract more tourists as museums are unique and there is already a zoo in Peshawar.

Besides showcasing the local art, culture and even Ghandara civilisation, a section in the museum can showcase local animals and how to take care of the environment. The government can even ask famous museums in other countries to donate or lend their museum displays that are not in use by them.

These displays are very educational and most museums store their old displays. They will happily donate them to make more space for their own expansion and upgradation plans.

Shahryar Khan Baseer
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2021