KARACHI: A committee set up to probe into the death of a golden tabby tiger at Karachi Zoo formally started its job on Thursday aiming to complete its job within next couple of days, officials said.

The committee comprising officials of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and wildlife experts directed Zoo Senior Director Khalid Hashmi to appear before it with all relevant records on Friday.

The inquiry committee, the officials said, had also identified and shortlisted other officials who would be interviewed during the 15-day process.

“The committee’s chairman, senior director of culture and sports Saif Abbas Hasani, has sent a letter to Hashmi asking him to appear before the committee with all relevant records today,” said a source privy to the development citing the official letter.

Other members of the inquiry committee included Dr Zameer Khanzada, Dr Farhan Issani, a senior veterinary officer at the livestock department; Dr Zulfiqar Odho, in charge of the Richmond Crawford Hospital, and Dr Taj Muhammad, deputy director of veterinary services at KMC.

Last week, the city zoo witnessed the fourth big cat fatality in three years when an exotic golden tabby tiger was reported dead. The 13-year-old golden tiger had been ill for a long time and apparently failed to receive proper care.

Last year, the zoo lost a lion, one of the four big cats, which were shifted to the zoo following their seizure by the customs authorities in 2010.

The year 2021 saw the death of a male lion and a white lioness in different months. KMC officials, however, blamed all these deaths on the animals’ old age.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2023