Lahore zoo no longer knows what to do with its lions. Consequently, twelve of his twenty-nine designs will be auctioned off this week to make room for the growing troupe. Now the Lahore Safari Zoo in northeastern Pakistan has so many big cats that lions and tigers can take turns joining their enclosures, said Tanvir Ahmed Janjua, the zoo’s deputy director. Thanks to the sale:we will not only free up space, but also reduce our costs of feeding them on meat“, he hopes.
Officials at the zoo, which is also home to six tigers and two jaguars, plan to auction 12 young lions between the ages of two and five on Thursday. The initiative is causing some animal advocates to jump, with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) particularly arguing that the big cats should be moved to other zoos or that the females should be spayed or put on birth control. “ The exchange and donation of animals between zoos is a widely accepted practiceassures WWF’s Uzma Khan. As soon as an institution like a zoo puts a price on a wild species, it encourages trade, which is counterproductive to conservation. »
In Pakistan, however, it is not uncommon for the well-to-do to adopt lions, tigers or other exotic species as pets, which are seen as outward symbols of wealth. Their owners post photos and videos of the beasts on social media and rent them out as props for films and photo shoots. Zoo officials, who have set a reserve of 150,000 rupees ($700) per lion, hope each animal will find a buyer for about two million rupees ($9,300). But potential buyers must first register with the local authorities and prove they have the means to provide adequate care and shelter for the felines.
lion gatherers
Last year, the auction of the lions could not take place because the potential buyers did not have the necessary documents or certificates, said zoo veterinarian Muhammad Rizwan Khan. Nouman Hasan, who drew the ire of authorities for walking his tiger on a leash in the country’s second-largest city, Lahore, plans to attend anyway. ” I will definitely try to buy two or three lions “. The sale is also an opportunity to diversify the genetic heritage for collectors who already own several lions, he explains.
All over Pakistan, zoos are notorious for poor facilities and poor animal care. At the end of 2020, the zoo in the capital Islamabad, which received international condemnations for the ill-treatment of elephant Kawan, was forced to close its doors. The 36-year-old fat pachyderm then left for a reserve in Cambodia. Lahore Safari Zoo, which covers more than 80 hectares, is still considered one of the most prestigious in the country. For Mr. Khan, a veterinarian, the animals here receive the best possible care, which is reflected in their fertility. ” They have a good life in captivity with us “, he announced.
Source: Le Figaro
