Improving Mirpur zoo

The Bangladesh National Zoo, located in Dhaka city's Mirpur, is the fourth largest in the world in terms of land area. With two lakes, a museum, two camping sites, huge gardens and orchards, this zoo has the potential to become one of the best in the world. But unfortunately, many of the animals at this zoo are passing days in travails. With poor medical care, scarce food and congested cages, the captive animals look so miserable and weak that seeing them is not exactly fun for all the visitors. Seeing them in poor health, it looks like the zoo is in need of a complete paradigm shift. Rather than be exhibitions only, it needs to become a place for education and awareness about animals.

What the Mirpur zoo, which could have been a much better quality zoo with better facilities for animal research and care, lacks is funding. It is extremely important for the authorities concerned to recognise this problem, and to look for a solution working with conservation and scientific experts.

Afroza Sheikh,

Dania, Dhaka,

ilcbd2008@gmailc.om