The zoo of mighty players and their petty politics

Animals have climbed down Margalla Hills and gates of walking trails have been closed to save human beings from them. Similarly, gates of Marghazar Zoo have been closed to save animals from human beings as spread of coronavirus in animals is feared with human interaction.

The big cats that have climbed down may have come here to say hello to their caged fellows, who may be labouring under the delusion of being left on to nature. Listening into their silence and whispering back these animals and birds make up composition of a sad melody.

The caged animals in Marghazar Zoo are different from other zoos in the country. The additional burden that they have to bear is the burden of political shenanigans of different parties.

This zoo would have been running as sluggishly as others but then the political party that was in opposition in Islamabad local government gained power at the centre.

The federal cabinet was dragged into the matter to decide that the zoo be placed under Ministry of Climate Change. On September 8 last year when the ministry took over the zoo, the scribe interviewed State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Wazir. Having entered the ministry’s compound, no one could miss the clumsy handling of affairs and the tension about who is the boss. However, she made it clear that her ministry will turn around the zoo as at present managers of the facility used to eat the meat bought for carnivores, who are fed farmed chickens.

On the contrary, the situation worsened to an extent that Islamabad High Court had to take up the case. This time, the scribe met Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Ansar who says that he is hopeful that something good will result for the zoo.

“Funds are our main problem. After the court took up the matter, it is heartening to see that minimum funds were issued by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) without much hassle for the zoo. Second, there is an issue of professionalism. We need the right man for the right job, which unfortunately we have so far failed to have,” he said.

He said they are taking care of hygiene and food issues at the zoo in view of coronavirus spread. “We also make sure that the whole city remains clean but unfortunately some officers interested in cheap publicity use our efforts for their photo-ops,” he said.

He said they will review minutes of the federal cabinet’s decision to give the zoo to the Climate Change Ministry and then challenge it in court as it is illogical for a federal ministry to run a zoo. He said due to unprofessional attitude of the DG Zoo, deaths and diseases spread among animals and they had removed him. But now he again has been made member of the committee to look into affairs of this issue.

He said Local Governments Commission was meant to resolve problems of local governments but due to conflict of interest of an advisor, it has become an accusation factory for them.

Against this background, it is safe to state that the zoo has become a football for different political actors.

Since, CDA pays salaries of its employees and arranges food for animals, it will be better that the civic body runs this facility. There has been visible improvement in city affairs since Chief Commissioner Amer Ahmed Ali was given charge of the civic body. He will heed advice of professionals, as he has at the time of redesigning Islamabad, to run the zoo and it will be good for this recreational facility.