Over 90 percent of animals, birds and reptiles, deer of Shahid AHM Kamruzzaman Zoo ( Rajshahi Central Zoo) in Rajshahi have turned senile and nearing the age of natural death. Due to lack of initiative to collect and pen new, tender aged zoo-exhibits, visitors are losing interest to visit the zoo. Concerned citizens said that if no new animals are replaced and added soon, this age-old zoo would soon be declared abandoned.
Already over one hundred cages of the zoo are lying empty and abandoned. As a result, there are only a small number of animals, birds and reptiles for the visitors to watch at.
According to sources, former Home Minister and martyred National Leader AHM kamruzzaman established Rajshahi Central Zoo in 1972 on 100 acres of land with 400 animals of 50 species which included several deer, two alligators, a Royal Bengal Tiger, two crocodiles, monkeys, snakes and many species of birds. Now, the number of collection has been increased mainly due to rapid regeneration of deer but the number of species has been decreased. These include one bear, one Indian rock python, 65 spotted deer, eight Indian asses, two gharials, a hyena, two black vultures, monkeys, baboons, an otter, one mountain-jac, hare, one white peacock, and some birds and pigeons. With the death of only lioness at her 14, the lone lion at the cage has become further isolated.
After visiting the whole area of the zoo, it was found the cages of snakes were empty apart excepting one Indian rock python, in one cage an aged lone bear sleeps and four cages interlinked are inhibited by a very old lion which is at the throes of its death, since, due to senility it has no ability to move .
The lone hyena is also very aged and stays inside his shady cage round the clock. The only happier scene can be seen in front of the monkey cages, their mischief and loitering in and around makes the visitors a little less gloomy. Four baboons were seen eating bananas and vegetables, yet those seem suffering from malnutrition and diseases.
The Muntjac or Mountain-jac often called as “Barking deer” is kept in a small, non-hygeinic cage with not a single blade of live grass. On the west side of the zoo, there is an enclosure with several dozens of spotted deer. The cage is also home to several Indian asses and a mule.
Among the birds there are black vultures, one white peacock and one cockatoo in the cages. According to the officials, there are 22 permanent and 25 temporary workers employed for the maintenance of the zoo. Many of the temporary workers are working for 12 to 14 years.
Rajshahi Central Zoo sources, however, informed, despite the death of significant number of aged animals during last one decade, no new animals have been replaced at the zoo. Recently roads, cages and spots inside the zoo were renovated and beautified at a cost of taka ten crore. After beautification, the old, tattered cages were replaced and new cages were replaced but no new animal was brought to the zoo. Moreover, the space of the zoo has been reduced due to construction of some commercial buildings there.
According to the officials of the zoo, on an average 800 to 1,000 visitors visit the zoo daily. Many students of different schools and colleges from all over the country also visit the zoo for picnic.
Fahima, a student of Dupchachia Girls College said, the zoo is big, but there are not enough animals to see and most of them are old and in bad shape. The zoo is not as attractive as it used to be. If more exotic animals are brought and the zoo is renovated properly, it would then become a great place to visit.