A revisit to the Lahore Zoo is imperative for anyone who, much like myself, remembers it as a faint memory of their childhood and has no inclination whatsoever to reignite their fascination for animals. A negative image of the Lahore Zoo has been imprinted in our minds with thoughts of severe wildlife negligence, uncleanliness and no forward plan.

The authorities at the Lahore Zoo make an active effort to cater to the specific needs of all the animals present there, ensuring provision of conditions that are optimum for their comfort and survival. However, the harsh reality is that even their capacities are limited and they reach a glass ceiling beyond which they cannot progress for reasons which are not within their control.

During the summers, when the temperatures soar to 45 degrees Celsius, mammals such as the brown bears, leopards and lions are provided with two blocks of ice each on a daily basis, along with a cooler that is installed inside their enclosures. Special care is taken to ensure that the coolers are refreshed. These methods serve to prevent dehydration, exhaustion and heat stroke as well as provide the animals with an environment most similar to their natural habitats.

The dietary and nutritional needs of animals are under strict regulation as well. Researchers delve into the intricacies of what each animal requires and formulate extensive diet plans accordingly. "These diet plans can be accustomed to changes," says Shafqat Ali, Director, Lahore Zoo, talking to TNS.

"Recently, we decreased the amount of meat we feed to the Tigers since the specialists thought it was necessary and so far it’s showing good results."

Similarly, newborn animals along with pregnant females, such as the cheetah, or older animals such as the female rhinosaurus are fed according to diet plans designed to provide the nutrition they require.

"General trends indicate that the lifespan of animals decreases in captivity," adds Dr Samuel Shahzad, one of the two vets at the Lahore Zoo. "We do our best to ensure that all animals get the necessary exercise needed to keep them fit, without which they begin to get lethargic and gain weight. Our elephant, Suzi, for example, takes rounds of the entire zoo in the morning prior to its opening."

Visits by the vets are scheduled twice a day for each animal where they primarily observe the animal’s behaviour, eating and defecation patterns along with blood screening if need be.

"Unlike domestic animals, which exhibit behavioural changes when physically unwell, wild animals do not show symptoms of disease. This makes early detection very difficult for us because these animals always try and counter the effects of the illness on their own such as in the case of deers that show normal relations with their caretakers as opposed to being on the sidelines and reserved," Dr Shahzad says.

It only becomes apparent in the last stages of that animal’s life or sometimes in post-mortem investigations, such as was the case with Sunny the giraffe who expired due to lung cancer.

High pollution levels in the city of Lahore increase the carbon content of the air along with greater toxicity and transmission of airborne diseases. This leads to a greater risk of animals contracting lung cancer, upper respiratory tract infections and tuberculosis. In response to this, the Zoo authorities along with the employed horticulturalists have planted numerous trees and plants to try and decrease the temperatures and counter the effects of pollution with fresher air.

"Different types of blood parasites are common in the cat family so regular blood screening tests are done on them and all ailments are treated with measured doses of medication at regular intervals with checkups. Advancements in technology have allowed us to treat cages with antiseptics that eliminate the smell of urine and prevent spread of diseases as well," he adds.

Unfortunately, despite the Zoo authorities’ efforts to educate the mass visitors on cleanliness and boundaries, there are still one too many incidents of animals, particularly from the deer family, choking on plastic crisps wrappers and other trash. It is in preventable situations such as these that the absence of the authority in charge is questioned.

The Lahore Zoo’s motto is to ‘Further Education through Recreation,’ but before that can happen there is a need to take one step back and assess the shortcomings that lead to avoidable situations becoming unavoidable. For starters, there is a dearth of experienced and passionate zoologists and other animal experts. According to Shafqat Ali, "Very few institutions are in place to offer such skills and less people enter this field to begin with. Out of those, still fewer are willing to work for a government institution.

"There is a need for us to capitalise on these few individuals along with long-term plans to create proper training facilities to ensure competency. It is also necessary to instill responsibility and a sense of liability within the caretakers of these animals.

"They think of their job as unimportant and, at times, degrading. We as masses need to give them the respect they deserve. It is difficult to find committed individuals willing to take on these jobs, which is why future expansions and additional exhibits have always been a problem. It is irresponsible of us to acquire new and different species but to lack the expertise that is required to sustain them."

According to Ali, "[This] problem has been discussed exhaustively in many of our meetings. The possibility of an aquarium is popular but almost impossible to manage. The cost of transportation and maintenance is also very high, a figure the Lahore Zoo cannot afford independently. Consistent load shedding does not allow for us to maintain aquarium temperatures, filters and aeration. Similar difficulties arise when proposing reptile and bird shows."

While the zoo is a self-sustaining body, covering its daily expenses through the revenue it generates from the nominal entrance fees, financial restrictions come into play when more advanced technology or expertise is required. In such situations, external help is necessary but not always given. "Any animals that are acquired internationally are got through contracts we have with other Zoos, but at times bearing the cost of more expensive breeds becomes difficult," Ali says.

Currently, zoo’s veterinary requirements are shared with external labs, as it does not possess the capability to do surgical procedures, MRIs or Post-Mortem Examinations. It is with this in mind that a Veterinary Hospital attached to the Lahore Zoo could reap numerous benefits despite requiring a very high capital investment. "Not only will a hospital allow us to conduct CT scans and X-Rays with ease, it will also allow for future vets to be trained here and gain employment within the zoo. It can also be used by our sister organisations such as Jallo Park and The Lahore Safari Park. It will allow us to conduct in-depth diagnoses thoroughly and routine examinations with greater ease," Dr Samuel Shahzad declares.