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Celebrities outraged over viral video of 'starving lion from Karachi Zoo'

Celebrities outraged over viral video of 'starving lion from Karachi Zoo'

KMC spokesperson denies reports that animals at the zoo have no food to eat, says "propaganda" is being spread online.
24 Nov, 2021

An alarming video of a starving lion, allegedly located at the Karachi Zoo, was widely shared on social media by both netizens and celebrities, prompting widespread outrage. Ahsan Khan, Areeba Habib, Shaniera Akram and Fatima Bhutto were among several big names who reacted to the heartbreaking condition of the animal with shock and anger.

The video of the starving lion — originally shared by Geo TV and ARY News online — was shared to highlight a halt in food supplies for animals at the zoo over lack of payment by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). However according to the KMC, all animals at the zoo are healthy and being provided proper feed. KMC spokesperson Ali Hasan Sajid told Dawn that a special team visited zoo on Tuesday and got information about the food provided to the animals. He said that the zoo had feed for a week for the animals.

He termed the reports circulating on social media baseless and said that some miscreants were spreading propaganda about the Karachi Zoo. He also called the images being shared on social media "outdated".

The issue has been highlighted by many celebrities who shared their thoughts on what they perceived as rampant animal neglect by the authorities.

"What on earth is happening here?" wrote Anoushey Ashraf while sharing the video on her Instagram Stories.

Khan called the conditions in the video "shameful" and quoted a hadith that urges kindness towards animals.

"This is so cruel and so obscene," wrote Bhutto. "These are living beings. Who is the contractor refusing to send food? And why does the zoo not have funds available? Where have they been spent? Does the city government have no shame?"

In another Story, Bhutto shared she has not had "bad experiences" with the Karachi Zoo in the past and understands they have low budgets and little support. "But this is so upsetting and so cruel," she said.

"For the love of God! Please take care of animals," pleaded actor Ahmed Ali Butt.

Actor Areeba Habib also found the video "heartbreaking".

Activist Shaniera Akram posted the video on Instagram as well, saying that "any animal that is sick or malnourished should be in medical care and not for the public's entertainment".

"I do not know the full story but if this footage is Karachi zoo right now then I am outraged," she wrote. "Even more outraged that the zoo is blaming the contractor for lack of food. This lion is sick and has been malnourished for a long period. The enclosure is inadequate and actions need to be taken!"

The poor treatment of animals at zoos in Pakistan is no secret. Kaavan, an elephant at the Islamabad zoo, was shifted to Cambodia after widespread outrage over its treatment in Pakistan. Regardless of where the animal is being kept, be it the Karachi Zoo or any other zoo in the world, we would hope that it is treated well. If we, as a global society, are hellbent on keeping zoos open — even though keeping any being in captivity is cruel and needless — we should at least treat animals properly. This video may not be from the Karachi Zoo, but it is of an animal at some zoo and that animal is being mistreated.

Comments

Tadka Nov 24, 2021 02:27pm
This is the ground reality not the grand 5 billions rs aid
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A Shah Nov 24, 2021 02:33pm
Why are they outraged over an animal when humans are starving due to PPP regime in Sindh?
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M. Saeed Nov 24, 2021 02:52pm
What a cruel corruption. Even animals' food is not spared. Who will protect the animals in a jungle of neglected humans?
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HKG Nov 24, 2021 02:57pm
Life has no value in Pakistan
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Adnan Malik Nov 24, 2021 02:58pm
Instead of trolling why don't you buy the food and donate to the Animal.
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Arshad Khan Nov 24, 2021 03:00pm
No, you are not interested in animal welfare or human welfare for that matter. All you sneaky "celebrities" care about is a little bit publicity and attention for yourselves, which you have not been getting lately!
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amanullah Awan Nov 24, 2021 03:11pm
Cruelty and Zulm, responsible people must be severely punished.
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AAA Nov 24, 2021 03:12pm
@A Shah Due to MQM regime, whom KMC operate under.
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Observer 2 Nov 24, 2021 03:18pm
Check who is managing Karachi...The answer is with Bilawal Zardari and Mural Ali Shah...no money for people and animal.all the money laundering done
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Sane Mind1st Nov 24, 2021 03:21pm
Wait till the world sees the picture, photos, snapshots of Pakistanis starving on the roads.
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Truth be told Nov 24, 2021 03:31pm
Possibly since Shaniera is involved, she can feed Waseem to the lion. Problem solved.
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A Nov 24, 2021 03:45pm
Future of humans. This video is get a shocking Ehsaas.
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Only Nov 24, 2021 03:45pm
And you want to match with Indian donation from your borrowed money. Where is the EGO now !!!
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Chota Nov 24, 2021 04:03pm
Whole Sindh is in this condition
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Observer 2 Nov 24, 2021 04:09pm
@AAA.. KMC is not under MQM ..it is under PPP
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Habibullah Nov 24, 2021 04:20pm
Can Murtaza Wahab see the pics and videos or he also says that it is the PTI Govt that is not providing food to the Lion
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haris Nov 24, 2021 04:42pm
Do these celebs have investigated the viral videos themselves? It seems they just made an easier choice and hop-on the bandwagon.
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haris Nov 24, 2021 04:44pm
@M. Saeed Trxy cross-check the viral footages yourself, before commenting.
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Aliya Abbasi Nov 24, 2021 06:57pm
Why is everyone so surprised. This a country where around an estimated 50% children are malnourished. This Lion is a said but true reflection of our society.
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Saif Zukfiqar Nov 24, 2021 06:57pm
I used to live in that are for very long time and visiting Zoo was habit to go there and drink coconut water. The animals were all healthy and looked happy with the visitors . Nowadays the caretakers are happy to make money for themselves and animals are sick.
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Mls Nov 24, 2021 07:26pm
Shame on human. Why keep, if you cannot provide even basic care?
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Pak Patriot Nov 24, 2021 07:28pm
The Administrator of Karachi Zoo should be Fired First and then ask Questions. This is beyond Pathetic, but then everything is possible in Sind run PPP. The Leadership is corrupt, why not the lower levels too.
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Sid C Nov 24, 2021 07:30pm
Instead of criticizing and putting on social media. Go help the zoo and it’s animals.
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Sid C Nov 24, 2021 07:32pm
@Adnan Malik well said.
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NYS Nov 24, 2021 07:38pm
Kaavan santuarity taken by Cher who is next for Khi Lion
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nk Nov 24, 2021 08:38pm
This ill fated poor animal is do emaciated that it looks he may not even survive particularly if he is aged.
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Ibrahim Nov 24, 2021 08:56pm
With this Govt and corruption and mismanagement and inflation, Soon people will be seen starving on the roadside.
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Dharm Nov 24, 2021 08:57pm
Same story being repeated.first it was elephant made to starve and then made the world to take care of that and now this lion. We shouldn't keep what we can't maintain.
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Rami Nov 24, 2021 09:08pm
This is PPP mafia work in Karachi, they money launder all the funds! Karachi needs martial law to get relieve by this Sicilian mafia of PPP! Animals and humans are starving, stunt growth children, no health care or clean water!
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Umair Ahmed Nov 24, 2021 09:38pm
Feed PPP minister a day to hungry lion.
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Raj Nov 24, 2021 10:49pm
While all this is happening. The Big cat population doubled in last decade, as WFF. Thanks for reading.
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Khalil Nov 24, 2021 11:04pm
Zalim log. The management should be dismissed with immediate effect. No excuse is acceptable.
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Ifti Malik Nov 24, 2021 11:27pm
These 'celebrities ' are not very indignant over millions of people dying of hunger and want in Pakistan and Afghanistan; but they're deeply indignant over the poor dead lion.
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Ifti Malik Nov 24, 2021 11:27pm
@A Shah , and millions of Pakistanis in other parts of Pakistan thanks to the PTI and Imran Nazi.
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Captain Beefeater Nov 25, 2021 12:22am
If they can't provide for the animals, then please appeal to other zoo's who can cater for them outside of your country.
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Changez Khan Nov 25, 2021 12:23am
There should be NO Zoo in Pakistan. All animals in Zoos must be freed.
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PT Nov 25, 2021 04:02am
@Adnan Malik . Thats the point. Where are the funds ear marked for the zoo? paid by the tax payer.
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Daanish Nov 25, 2021 05:52am
PPP is as cruel to humans as to animals
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M khan Nov 25, 2021 05:56am
Plenty of food for the lion. Just let him out of his cage. He will do the rest
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Propakistani Nov 25, 2021 07:12am
Karachi zoo should have better resources if is to stay functional . Better still it should be closed. It's tract record of past animal demises is amazing. Poorly trained staff and poor care animal demises are frequent
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Ga Nov 25, 2021 07:53am
Character of a nation is known by the way it treats its animals. - anonymous
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Alih Kazmi Nov 25, 2021 08:24am
@Observer 2 Doesn't matter who controls KMC, PPP controls the money.
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Alih Kazmi Nov 25, 2021 08:32am
@Raj Bhakt alert.
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Rahat Nov 25, 2021 08:51am
@Truth be told Why do not you offer yourself first
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AAJ Nov 25, 2021 09:24am
In a society where humans are being deprived of basic needs, animals are quite low on the priority list.
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Rock Solid Nov 25, 2021 09:57am
Very sad!
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imran Nov 25, 2021 01:51pm
@A Shah let me point out to a province where there are people being kidnapped and bodies riddled by the established under the PTI regime. kuch dehaan idher bhi....
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Nov 25, 2021 03:03pm
They are 100 percent right to be angry at the family-owned, clan-operated, dynasty-backed, Larkana-based and Bilawal-House controlled inept, spineless, ruthless, useless, hopeless and shameless city government of the great city of Karachi, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, for being so criminally negligent towards the well-being, safety, security and protection of animals including lions and tigers and for miserably failing to cater to these poor animals daily needs and wants of food at the world famous and historic Karachi Zoo.
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Shahid Mahmood Nov 26, 2021 10:08am
The contractor couldn't be paid because half of the budget goes to Zardari house.
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fariiha Dec 01, 2021 08:51am
@A Shah why not? Unlike humans, they cannot speak, they cannot even voice their suffering, and also unlike humans , their whole life consists of a cage, where they are to be bound forever. If we are binding animals for our amusement, the least humans can do is give them food and healthcare. Otherwise there shouldn't be any zoos. Why have them, if the ultimate goal is for them to die out of loneliness and starvation.
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