RAHIM YAR KHAN: The district administration has ordered an inquiry after a viral video showed remains of animals and birds lying in different enclosures of the local wildlife park on Kacha Sadiqabad Road near Tibbi Larran, 12km from the city.

Deputy Commissioner Shakeel Ahmed Bhatti took the notice of the video and ordered Assistant Commissioner Waqas Zafar to immediately visit the park.

He said the cruel behavior with the wildlife was regretful and the pictures of remains of animals and birds were distressing.

He said the negligence of the park keepers and Wildlife staff would be looked into as the condition of the park was the worst failure of its administration.

The DC said the assistant commissioner would complete the inquiry and present his report which would identify negligent officials and staff to be proceeded against.

DC orders inquiry

Sources said a visitor shot the pathetic look of the park and uploaded it on social media. The clip showed remains of dead animals like langur and deer and birds in their enclosures as no one bothered to bury them. Some of the animals looked to be seriously ill.

According to the visitor, there was no proper food and water in the cages of animals and birds. Peacocks were kept in pigeons’ cage where they were fighting for space.Wildlife Assistant Director Sultan Anjum told Dawn that the remains of animals and birds were kept in a room till autopsy but the park supervisor and other staff did not bury them. He said animals and birds were forced to drink brackish subsoil water because there was no availability of canal water.

He said lack of funds was the main reason of poor and inadequate feed for animals. He said the park also faced staff shortage. “The zoo has been established at a long distance from the city which was another reason of its neglect.”

The park was established over a barren tract of land away from the city in 1987.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2023