Time to Say Goodbye to Zoos

It is often said that when elephants feel they are going to die, they walk away from their herd. They go to a quiet place and die alone, with peace and respect.

But this peaceful end was not given to Noor Jehan and Sonia. These two elephants were taken from Tanzania as babies in 2009. They were kept far from their real home. Their last days were spent in cages at Karachi Zoo. They were sick, lonely, and in pain.

When Noor Jehan got quite ill, many kind people stayed with her day and night. She was given medicine and food. Her sores were cleaned. A crane was used to help her turn her body. But her life could not be saved. Her death made everyone upset.

Sonia died soon after Noor Jehan. She was only 18 years old. In the wild animals, elephants live much longer. She had tuberculosis. This disease is not common in wild elephants. It is often caused by stress in zoos. Her memorial says: “Bound behind bars, her spirit sought freedom — let flowers bloom where she once walked this Earth.”

In her last days, something distressing was seen. One of her sisters hit a tree again and again. She was angry and hurt. The other sister came and gently hugged her. People could see how elephants feel deep emotions. Their hearts can be broken, just like humans. Their spirits are damaged by being kept in cages.

These deaths show a bigger problem. Since 2012, many elephants have died in Pakistani zoos. Proper care has not been given. This shows that at zoos, people are amused at the cost of animals’ suffering.

Normally, elephants living freely in their habitat walk 20 to 25 kilometres every day. They eat, play, and think a lot. But in zoos, only a small space is given to them. This makes their bodies weak. They get fat, and their joints hurt. Many elephants are seen pacing or moving their heads again and again. These are signs of sadness and stress.

Not only elephants suffer. Lions, tigers, jackals, bears, zebras, and snakes are also kept in cages. Many of them are taken from the wild and sold. This is done through illegal wildlife trade. Their needs are not cared for. They are kept in small places without enough food or medical help.

No matter how vast a land is given to the zoo animals, the feeling of being caged affect them both physically and mentally. The walls may be far, but the cage is still there in their minds.

Today, people are starting to ask an important question: Do we still need zoos? We say we care about animals and want to protect them. But are we doing the right thing by locking them up?

There are now better ways to learn about animals. We can watch nature shows or use virtual reality. These ways do not hurt animals.

As more animals die in zoos, people are speaking up. A big question is being asked: Are zoos just old ideas that no longer belong in our world? Maybe it is time to shut them down — for good.