Local zoos must comply with international guidelines, says federal minister

ISLAMABAD: Expressing concerns on death of a snow leopard in Peshawar zoo, Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah Khan on Friday said all zoos must comply with international standards of zoos, providing all facilities and conditions necessary for health of animals.

According to reports, snow leopard died because of poor habitat conditions and warm weather which were unfit for its health.

The dead snow leopard was brought to the newly established zoo in Peshawar from Ayubia National Park in Abbottabad.

According to reports warm weather and poor conditions of zoo in Peshawar caused its death.

Senator Mushahidullah Khan, who elected to chairman of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) programme after representatives of 12 countries voted in his favor in 2015 said, that zoo management should have arranged suitable conditions for health of snow leopard before transferring it.

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Snow Leopard is considered vulnerable specie and its population is under threats. So such unfortunate incidents are posing dangers to its population in Pakistan.

Snow Leopard is an animal of heights and warm temperature of Peshawar was unfavorable for its survival. Moreover, careless in transportation negatively affected its health. Previously a dear also died in this zoo and a wolf killed a monkey.

Mushahidullah said that all the provincial governments must take measures to improve conditions, provide facilities and train zoo staffs in Pakistan.

“We need to take various steps to protect endangered species of Pakistan to maintain healthy ecosystem,” he said.