Zoroastrian News - اخبار زرتشتیان

... A Parsi family generously donated it to the Karachi Zoo. Elephants are said to be one of the most endangered species around the world, slowly becoming extinct. Their exchange and trade is strictly prohibited between countries and is also banned according to (CITES). This however, excludes zoos and safaris as they are meant to conserve the species. ...

Karachi: It has been almost six months since the death of “Anarkali,” who passed away on July17, 2006, and the Karachi Zoo still remains without an elephant, which is considered as a major source of attraction at any zoo. Anarkali the elephant was the heart of the zoo and there has, to-date, been no replacement after her death.

After Anarkali, efforts have also increased in this regard. According to Mansoor Qazi, the Sri Lankan government is interested in donating a baby elephant to the Karachi Zoo. However, this agreement is followed by a list of formalities. To get a baby elephant for the zoo, the Head of the State is required to forward the requisition in this regard to the Sri Lankan government for an approval from its parliament.

Anarkali the elephant was the heart of the zoo and there has, to-date, been no replacement after her death. Though conditions at Karachi Zoo might not be satisfactory for many, a majority of people believed that Anarkali was the only source of entertainment and attraction for visitors, especially children. The reason that the zoo was able to generate a handsome annual income was mainly because of Anarkali and the rides taken on her by children.

Since the life span of an elephant is 65 years, therefore, efforts to get another elephant for the zoo had started when Anarkali was about to reach the age of 65. The Consulate Generals of Thailand and Nepal were invited to visit the zoo for this purpose.

Most of the elephants in different zoos and safaris around the world are of Asiatic origin. This is so because they are more easily trained, and have had a long history of being tamed and trained by Rajas and Maharajas of the Asian subcontinent. These include countries like India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, etc. African elephants are the wildest species and are rarely found in zoos and safaris around the world.

Karachi zoo is also looking for an Asiatic elephant and efforts are being made in this regard. Zoo Director Mansoor Qazi said that they plan to bring a baby elephant from Sri Lanka as Pakistan shares good mutual relations with it. Moreover, Sri Lanka has the most tamed elephants in the subcontinent.

“An application has already been sent to the City Nazim, which when it gets approved would be sent to the President who forwards it to the Sri Lankan government for acquiring a baby elephant from the elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka,” explains Mansoor Qazi. Once this step has been processed, the zoo authorities would apply for permission for trading of this elephant to the zoo. This would be sought from Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).

However, this does not end here. The transportation of the elephant still remains to be a big problem, as it requires planes with special pressurised cabins. Before the incident of September 11, 2001, KLM and Lufthansa were two major airlines operating in the country and were largely used for transportation and trading of animals. However, after the 9/11 incident, these airlines have stopped operating in the country. This leaves the zoo authorities to bear the expenses of a private chartered plane, which increases the freight rates. However, Qazi said that it is easy to bring animals by road from India. “But fragile relations with India have always discouraged this idea and nothing could be done till now” he said.

Elephants are socially tamed animals with a very friendly instinct. It befriends the people who come to visit it and also has a deep affection for the mahawat (the caretaker). Anarkali was the first elephant that the Karachi Zoo has had so far. A Parsi family generously donated it to the Karachi Zoo. Elephants are said to be one of the most endangered species around the world, slowly becoming extinct. Their exchange and trade is strictly prohibited between countries and is also banned according to (CITES). This however, excludes zoos and safaris as they are meant to conserve the species.

According to wildlife expert, Dr Ejaz Ahmad at World Wildlife Fund-Pakistan (WWF-Pak), the behaviour of elephants changes once they are shifted from their natural environment to an artificial one. They die much before the expected time, if not looked after and treated properly. “When elephants are in wild, they move and search for food, but when they are kept in captivity in zoos and safaris, their food intake should be fulfilled as they have a big appetite,” he said. Other then that elephants need a bath everyday as they love being in water and enjoy it.

There is one elephant in both the Lahore and Islamabad Zoo, which leaves the Karachiites to completely depend on the requisition that would be forwarded by the President of Pakistan to attain an elephant for the Karachi Zoo. After all the formalities are fulfilled, a baby elephant would finally grace the Karachi Zoo. This leaves the citizens in utter dismay as the whole process may take a long time. Till then the city children can do nothing but wait.