COMILLA, Sept 10: The 31-year-old Comilla Zoo at Kaliazori area in the city, which is located on 10.15 acres inside a botanical garden of 75 acres, is now in a poor state.
The number of different species of animals and birds decreases every year. Now, only 15 animals and birds including a lion, eight different species of monkeys, two deer, two horses and two Egyptian hens are living in the zoo, but their condition is not good.
Four years ago, there were nine deer, two more monkeys, a fox, a peacock and a river gull. But, the peacock died on January 1, 2014, seven deer were taken to another place while the lion has become sick.
Now most of the cages including those of the deer have remained empty for long, and instead of animals, timbers have been left inside the cages.
The animals living in the zoo are dying due to the negligence of the authority and shortage of food. The boundary walls on east and north sides of the zoo are very low. Many homeless children are seen crossing the wall easily. Although there are guards, they don't care about this.
Mamunur Rahman Patwary, leaseholder of the zoo and the botanical garden said, 13 charters of demand were submitted to the administration for the development of the zoo in October 4, 2011, but no action was taken based on the demands.
Swapan Kumar Dutta, office assistant of Comilla Zila Parishad said, from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2016, the zoo was leased for Tk 1.20 lakh.
Meanwhile, not more than 10 people come to visit the zoo everyday. Although the zoo remains open from morning till evening to all kinds of visitors, mostly teenagers and young couples are seen to come here.
The earth from the roots of different trees inside the zoo has been removed due to rain. Besides, no new trees are planted here. After any scanty rainfall, the surroundings, especially the lower areas, are flooded.
Md. Abu Taher, administrator of Comilla Zila Parishad said, the district administration which is the authority of the zoo, leases it every three years.
Though the Comilla Zoo has huge potential, there is no step to develop it. The district administration will take proper step in this connection very soon, he added.
