Lockdown in Zoological Gardens
During these Pandemic days, every human being is concerned with their well being by keeping social distancing and by staying home for several days as quarantined. This isolation period has made several psychological and emotional changes with in a human being. Either good or bad that is another thing, but changes are there which can be seen and felt in behaviors. For instance Isolation state has made human realize, how to stay alone in a lockdown state and what are the feelings.
Recently have seen various videos expressing the sympathy towards zoo animals, being kept in zoo for their lifetime, isolated in small cages, like:
Shardha Kapoor expressing through her videos:
In English
“Until one loves an animal, a part of ones soul remains unawakened.” - Anatole France.
In Hindi
Coming back to the point what happened then!
In Islamabad, an elephant named Kaavan will migrate to combodia after mistreatment from Islamabad Zoo authorities.
After the court verdict, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) Chairman Dr. Anis Rehman constituted an eight-member committee tasked with suggesting suitable sanctuaries for the relocation of Kavaan and other animals.
After assessing all possible locations, the committee, headed by Rab Nawaz, IWMB member and Senior Director WWF Pakistan, proposed that the Elephant Sanctuary Cambodia equipped with experts who have relocated and rehabilitated over 80 elephants “would be the best choice.”
Animal lovers hail Kaavan’s freedom
The campaign to free Kaavan by animal lovers in Pakistan and abroad in the last few years led to a series of government meetings, court hearings and global media coverage. “For the first time in the history of Pakistan, ‘animal sentience’ has been recognised within the constitutional framework based on eco-centric principles of Islam, definition of ‘Right to Life’ under the Constitution and Universal Declaration of Animal Rights,” said Owais Awan, the lawyer who pursued Kaavan’s case. He cherished the fact that Pakistan’s courts are assuming a supervisory role” to “assure implementation” of the order for the welfare of animals.
WE HAVE JUST HEARD FROM
— Cher (@cher) May 21, 2020
PAKISTAN HIGH COURT
KAAVAN IS FREEðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne, co-founder of the animal welfare organisation Free the Wild that has been actively involved in the case and requesting Pakistan to release the elephant, also hailed the news. “[We] are delighted by the news from Pakistan regarding the relocation and retirement of Kaavan, Pakistan’s last remaining Asian elephant… after 5 years of relentless effort by Free the Wild and Team Kaavan.”
The organisation said it was now working with its team of vets to check Kaavan’s health after which they would apply for the permit to move him - which will be a technically complex and delicate process. Kaavan will then have to be trained “to enter his temporary transport crate, until he is comfortable and familiar with it.” This training is expected to take about 3 to 4 weeks which means he will be freed by the end of September.
When American music icon Cher, co-founder of FTW, heard from Pakistan High Court’s in May, the animal rights campaigner said: “This is one of the greatest moments of my life.”
Finally, at least Kaavan is free, but this doesn't end here and further steps needs to be taken by World Wild Life Authorities and other concerned Organisations. I request them to please take further reforms like:
- Monitoring the conditions of animals of the zoo worldwide during this Pandemic by visiting the vicinity.
- Reforming the law to switch the animals periodically their locations from Zoo to National Parks.
- Imposing obligations to countries to have national Parks for switching their animals periodically.
- Providing health care benefits to Animals.
- Cage Areas should be increased in the zoo for their movements.