LAHORE: Fifteen deer will be shifted to the Zoo Safari from Lahore Zoo.

Officials told Dawn that following the practice of shifting surplus animals to other captive breeding centres such as zoos, safaris and wildlife parks, these deer would be shifted to the Lahore Zoo Safari. Pairing is another purpose of the shifting of the animals.

According to details, the four pairs of hog deer and two of spotted deer besides three Sambar deer would be shifted to the Lahore Zoo Safari from the Lahore Zoo.

The sources said there was a complex situation of pairing of animals and birds at all Punjab wildlife captive breeding facilities. To overcome this problem, this kind of shifting was a general practice.

`Pairing has never been given due attention by the wildlife authorities where as it`s an extremely important issue,` they added.

It merits mention that no zoo, wildlife park or safari issues media any official information weekly, monthly or yearly on sick or disabled animals or birds.

They rather try to conceal things. There should be a mechanism under which an official report on all sick animals and their treatment details should be shared with the media. The condition of disabled animals and their count on each facility should also be mentioned.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2023