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A zoo is auctioning off its lions to make room

2022-08-08T12:26:00.555Z


The zoo in Lahore, Pakistan, has decided to part with half of its lion population, which has become too numerous. But some conservationists are showing their fangs.


The Lahore zoo no longer knows what to do with its lions.

Twelve of his twenty-nine specimens will therefore be auctioned off this week to make room for the growing troupe.

There are now so many big cats at the Safari Zoo in Lahore, northeast Pakistan, that lions and tigers can only take turns to join their enclosures, said the zoo's deputy director, Tanvir Ahmed Janjua.

Thanks to the sale, "

we will not only free up space, but also reduce our expenditure on meat intended to feed them

", he hopes.

Officials at the zoo, which is also home to six tigers and two jaguars, plan to auction 12 young lions, ages two to five, on Thursday.

The initiative makes some animal defenders jump, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) judging in particular that the big cats should be transferred to other zoos or that the females should be sterilized or put on contraceptives.

"

The exchange and donation of animals between zoos is a widely accepted practice

," says Uzma Khan of WWF.

As soon as an institution such as a zoo sets a price on a wild species, it encourages trade, which goes against conservation.

»

In Pakistan, however, it is not uncommon – for the well-to-do – to take lions, tigers or other representatives of exotic species as pets, seen as outward symbols of wealth.

Their owners post photos and videos of the beasts on social media, and rent them out as props for movies and photo shoots.

Zoo officials, who have set a reserve of 150,000 rupees ($700) per lion, hope each animal will find a buyer for around two million rupees ($9,300).

But potential buyers must first register with the local authorities and prove that they have the means to provide the felines with appropriate care and shelter.

Read alsoShould we still go to the zoo?

lion collectors

Last year, a lion auction could not take place because potential buyers did not have the necessary documents or certificates, said zoo veterinarian Muhammad Rizwan Khan.

Nouman Hassan, who has drawn the wrath of the authorities for having walked his tiger on a leash in Lahore - the second largest city in the country -, plans to participate in any case.

I will try to buy two or three lions, that's for sure

 ”.

The sale is also an opportunity to diversify the genetic heritage for collectors who already own several lions, he explains.

Across Pakistan, zoos are notable for poor facilities and poor animal care.

At the end of 2020, the zoo in the capital Islamabad, which had attracted international condemnations for having mistreated the elephant Kaavan, had to close its doors.

The 36-year-old obese pachyderm then left for a Cambodian nature reserve.

The Safari Zoo of Lahore, which covers more than 80 hectares, is however considered to be one of the most welcoming in the country.

For Mr. Khan, the veterinarian, the animals receive the best possible care here, which is reflected in their fertility.

They are having a good life in captivity with us

 ,” he said.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-08-08

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