The true test of any society’s level of civility can be gauged by how it treats its most vulnerable, and none are more vulnerable than animals. Given that the nation is currently in the midst of an especially harsh winter, now is the time for citizens to step up and show some compassion to our furry friends.
Unlike humans, cold weather affects animals even more severely. For example, according to news reports, the animals in Rangpur Zoo have been suffering tremendously due to the sudden spike in cold weather and the prolonged absence of the sun. While the zoo administration has multiple measures in place to tend to the animals’ healthcare, they are still rather inadequate.
The Zoo Act 2023 was passed last year in Bangladesh, and while the bill rightly focuses on the potential abuse of zoo animals at the hands of visitors it still leaves some room for administrative negligence. Zoos are inherently something of a prison-like environment for animals, and while the bill does go to some length in ensuring that various species of animals are given specialized consideration, zoos are notorious in terms of lacking sanitary environments.
The conversation takes an even grimmer tone when discussing stray animals. While a number of advocacy groups and non-government organizations have been spreading awareness on the effectiveness of sterilization drives, the culling of stray dogs and cats remains disturbingly prevalent.
Of course, Bangladesh has recently seen, especially in the capital, something of a resurgence in keeping house pets, which is an incredibly positive phenomenon, which is why we urge citizens who can afford to do so to also extend some hospitality to strays by offering them shelter from the cold.
If we cannot treat those who cannot defend themselves with empathy, then we cannot lay claim to empathy at all.
Unlike humans, cold weather affects animals even more severely. For example, according to news reports, the animals in Rangpur Zoo have been suffering tremendously due to the sudden spike in cold weather and the prolonged absence of the sun. While the zoo administration has multiple measures in place to tend to the animals’ healthcare, they are still rather inadequate.
The Zoo Act 2023 was passed last year in Bangladesh, and while the bill rightly focuses on the potential abuse of zoo animals at the hands of visitors it still leaves some room for administrative negligence. Zoos are inherently something of a prison-like environment for animals, and while the bill does go to some length in ensuring that various species of animals are given specialized consideration, zoos are notorious in terms of lacking sanitary environments.
The conversation takes an even grimmer tone when discussing stray animals. While a number of advocacy groups and non-government organizations have been spreading awareness on the effectiveness of sterilization drives, the culling of stray dogs and cats remains disturbingly prevalent.
Of course, Bangladesh has recently seen, especially in the capital, something of a resurgence in keeping house pets, which is an incredibly positive phenomenon, which is why we urge citizens who can afford to do so to also extend some hospitality to strays by offering them shelter from the cold.
If we cannot treat those who cannot defend themselves with empathy, then we cannot lay claim to empathy at all.
