Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat and Capital Administration has expressed grave concern on mistreatment of ‘Kaavan’, an elephant in Islamabad Zoo and recommended that government shift the ill elephant to his homeland Myanmar or any other environment friendly country.

While chairing the meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat and Capital Administration, Senator Talha Mehmood has said it is quite unfortunate that the government has been failed to take care of ‘Kaavan’ as the elephant is being mistreated by the Zoo administration.

The committee members were briefed by a private sector organization through their presentation that currently, ‘Kaavan’ is suffering physical and mental disorders; whereas, the caretakers are feeding alcohol to the elephant. The presentation suggested that the ‘Kaavan’ should be shifted outside the country to avoid further maltreatment as soon as possible.

Taking part in the discussion, Senator Tahir Hussain Mashahadi said that the elephant sanctuaries are working in Thailand and Sri Lanka. Government should shift ‘Kaavan’ to one of these two countries for his batter care.

Senator Samina Abid informed the committee that the organizations working for animal protection are willing to assist the government in shifting ‘Kaavan’ to Myanmar and they have also managed a reserve space there in sanctuary.

While responding on the issue, the State Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said; “The Zoo administration has been caring ‘Kaavan’ from last 32 years; whereas, the elephant is not ill and there is no need to send him anywhere.”

However, the committee discussed the matter in detail and recommended the government to shift the elephant to any environment friendly country preferably Myanmar.

The committee has also raised questions over the alleged transfer of the control of Islamabad Zoo to a private party.

The Sate Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal replied on the issue saying the government didn’t decide to give Zoo to any private party, but only the administrative control would be shifted to private sector for the state of art development of Islamabad Zoo.

He briefed further that the government has decided to increase the Zoo land from 20 acres to 80 acres; whereas, the Zoo would be reconstructed as per international standards.