Four decades into its establishment, the Dhaka Zoo is yet to be coming along let alone modernising its outward appearance.
No genuine attempts had been taken over the period of time to develop the zoological park.
The incumbent government earlier undertook a five-year project between the year of 2013 and 2017 involving around Tk3.48bn to endow the two zoos in Dhaka and Rangpur with modern facilities. But the plan which was supposed to take effect this year is now stuck in bureaucratic tangle.
Prior to undertaking the project, the Department of Livestock conducted a digital survey with the help of Buet specialists and finally prepared a report based on its findings, according to a source.
A number of factors including the area of the facilities, the number of animals, shades, streets, lakes, shops and trees inside the zoological garden were considered while preparing the report.
The report was finally submitted to the livestock department last year.
The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology team of specialists sought 2% of the total project fund in return for preparation of the structural design and master plan of the project. But they were refused, and the job was handed over to the government’s architecture department as it offered to do the work free of cost.
However, the government architects are yet to kick off the project work though seven months have since elapsed.
Dhaka Zoo, set up on an extensive land of 186 acres is ranked fourth among all the zoological parks across the world, in terms of the area it covers.
But unlike other zoos, Dhaka’s one does not have much to offer, other than showcasing the encaged animals there.
Each day, thousands of crowds from all walks of life throng the zoo and walk miles after miles on foot to enjoy the tricks of monkeys and other animals.
The visitors have to buy food at an exorbitant price as the food stalls inside the facility sell foods at higher rate than their usual prices. To make matters worse, the number of toilets in the vicinity is much less than required.
A beautiful lake is also there amidst the panoramic surroundings, but it hardly absorbs the animal lovers because of the lacking of paddle boats.
According to some zoo officials, the zoo earns over Tk100m each year even under the current circumstances.
Of the amount, the entrance fee adds up to Tk50m while the rest is aggregated with parking fee, lease on public toilets and rent for restaurants.
A zoo official said the government can turn the Dhaka Zoo into a centre of attraction and increase revenues by many degrees if it puts in minimum effort for modernisation.
But no successive government paid heed to it so far, regretted the official.
An investigation revealed that the government is yet to enact any law to manage and maintain the zoos in the country properly.
However, a draft law is learnt to have been prepared 10 years back, but it has yet to see the light of day as the two ministries the Ministry of Forest and the Ministry of Livestock are locked in a tug of war over the draft law.
Four decades have passed since its inception, but the Dhaka zoo is far from becoming a member of World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
As a result, the zoo is being deprived of opportunities including exchange of animals with other countries, purchase of animals through international tender, training related to wildlife management among overseas nations, etc.
The report prepared by Buet specialists suggested a number of measures for an overhaul of the zoo.
The measures include installation of a digital main entrance, construction of an underpass, car park, semi-natural shades for faunas and a tall tower, plying of soundless vehicles to wander around the zoo, setting up of a children’s park and employment of zoo guides.
The zoo has no shade for over 300 wild animals living in small enclosures which bar them from roaming around.
The animal populaltion even seem to have forgotten their wild behaviour and hardly howl or growl.
Deputy Curator Maksud Hossain Haoladar of Dhaka Zoo said wild beasts like tigers and lions need to get an opportunity to wander around freely in open space.
But since the Dhaka Zoo has no such zone, all wild animals are kept here in confinement years after years, he said.
Zoo officials said about 10,000-15,000 people visit the vicinity on normal days while the visitors’ number rises to 20,000 during holidays.
The zoo usually turns into a sea of crowds, with about 70,000-100,000 people visiting the place during Eid vacation.
