BAHAWALPUR: An African-origin lioness died in Shair Bagh zoo here the other day, allegedly because of age-related illness.

As per the zoo staff, the African-origin lioness, named Bidi was born in the zoo in 2001 and die after falling sick. She had given birth to three cubs in captivity, they say.

Bahawalpur Division Wildlife Deputy Director Ali Usman Bokhari, who is also holding officiating charge of the Shair Bagh zoo after the suspension of its curator, confirmed the death of lioness, claiming she had developed diabetes for some years.

He says she was being treated and looked after by vets during her illness and died because of the “age factor” as the normal age of these big cats is between 22-30 years.

However, he says, a team of vets from the Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, has conducted the postmortem examination of the animal and sent samples for laboratory analysis.

He adds the exact cause her death would be determined in the light of the lab tests report that was awaited.

He denied any negligence in the treatment of the lioness and claimed that all animals and birds in the zoo were being looked after and fed properly.

FOUND MURDERED: The Baghdadul Jadid police on Saturday found the body of a young man, who had allegedly been kidnapped by unidentified men outside his house the other day.

According to police sources, Ali Ahmed Larr (25) was kidnapped outside his house in Satellite Town, Bahawalpur when he went out after someone called him on his mobile phone. After his kidnapping, Ali’s brother Mahmood got registered an FIR under section 365 of PPC with police. However, the police failed to trace him and later he was found murdered in the fields near the Satellite Town area.

The police shifted the body to mortuary of the Bahawal Victoria Hospital.

A police spokesman said the murder section had been added to the kidnapping FIR.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2023