BAHAWALNAGAR: The local zoo administration faces criticism from visitors following the recent death of an Indian langur as they believe the untrained handlers failed to protect the primate from scorching weather.

The zoo administration rejects the charge and blames the Punjab government for lack of facilities for animals and denial of required funding.

A video of the langur’s death is also making rounds on social media in which the primate could be seen battling to survive in extremely hot weather without any shade to protect him and two other from the searing heat.

Zoo supervisor Nazar Abbas said the langur apparently died of heatstroke and dehydration. The post-mortem report was still awaited, he added.

Citizens who frequent the zoo say most of the animals seemed sick and starving, whereas the administration keeps them in same cages from winter to summer and this is ongoing for several years.

“Despite earning a hefty amount from the gate money, the wildlife department spends little on the animal well-being,” says a visitor.

Citing findings of the animal’s post-mortem examination, Wildlife District Officer Munawar Hussain Najmi said the langur had died because of heatstroke.

An official said the langur caught by a local wildlife team after it crossed into Pakistan from India on Jan 5 died because of harsh living conditions at the zoo.

He said apart from other animals, the zoo had two more Indian langurs captured at different times from the border area and 15 monkeys.

A former Wildlife DO who had served in Bahawalnagar told Dawn that the zoo administration had been struggling to provide facilities to the animals as well as the visitors because of a lack of funding from the government.

He said occasionally officials had to spend money out of their own pocket for repair and maintenance work at the zoo.

About feeding the animals, the DO said the Wildlife DG issued a tender every year and the winning contractor was responsible for providing food to the animals.

He claimed the situation was so bad that the government paid the contractors after several months. In such a situation, he said, staff could not confront the contractor on the quality of food provided to the animals.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2021