The taxidermist museum of Karachi Zoological Gardens appeared toothless to attract the picnickers, despite charging fees for their visit. Taxidermy is mounting or reproducing dead animals for display. It can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
In a visit to zoo, his scribe witnessed the pathetic look of the museum as lights and air-conditioners were out of order. Besides, display cases of taxidermists were in dilapidated condition, presenting pitiful appearance of what zoo authorities claimed the taxidermist museum a unique recreational place for visitors.
A man was deployed outside the museum for making announcements at loudspeaker to attract visitors towards taxidermist items. An announcement by 60-year old Lal Buksh was making to attract people, saying: "Come on, hurry up, and watch more than 180 animals in museum by paying just Rs 5".
"We have been charged Rs 5 per person to go inside the museum but after witnessing the atmosphere of museum I felt that all my money had gone waste as it was nothing to cheer there", said Yaqoob Khan, who visited the museum along with his four children and spouse.
There were only few animals displayed in about 20 showcases of the museum and most of them were giving fragile look. Director of the Zoo, Bashir Sadozai, said that the zoo was in dilapidated condition when he was handed over a charge of museum. He said that he has brought remarkable transformation in zoo to give healthy atmosphere to picnickers.
Bashir said that he has taken notice of fragile condition of taxidermist museum and in this regard steps are being taken. "We are facing acute shortage of money as we have been only provided 1 million rupees for the feed of the animals of the zoo despite the fact that we need about Rs 11 million per year to arrange meal or feed for the animals living in the cages of Karachi Zoological Gardens", Sadozai told Business Recorder.
He said that renovation of the taxidermist museum would be carried out soon, adding that it would take a month or two. He said that a newly renovated aquarium and reptile house have been opened to the general public by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) at the Karachi Zoo after a hiatus of some three years. He added that a number of new animals and birds were being added to the zoo and that they would arrive in the current month. The director said the measures were aimed at making the zoo the country's standard for a zoological garden. He added that the installation of five electric water coolers for public use was also under way.
More than 30 species of fish are housed in the newly renovated aquarium, while the revived reptile house has over 40 kinds of snakes and pythons. The inner roundabout and roads in the zoo are also being redesigned and work on the restoration of an old fountain was also under way.
He said that with the restoration of a security system, visitors, especially women and children, felt far more secure while at the facility. He said that feasibility for the installation of a sewage treatment plant had also been prepared so that water could be recycled and used for watering plants and trees.
On the other hand, sources said that special monitoring committee was set up by defunct City District Government (CDGK) with a mandate to submit its recommendation for improvement of health of captive animals of Karachi Zoological Gardens. But it has failed to accomplish its assigned job due to lack of interest and unwillingness of officials concerned. The said committee was formed by Community Development Department (CDD) of defunct city district government Karachi to chalk out a plan for the prevention of damages, injuries to animals after the death of lion cubs in Karachi Zoo. The committee as suggested by the community development department of city government Karachi was independent to monitor and suggest measures for improvement of health of captive animals.