Karachi Zoo to get two elephants

KARACHI – Competent authorities in the CDGK have approved the purchasing of two Elephants in two to three months time for Karachi Zoo and Safari park as tender has been given to an international firm on lowest bid, The Nation has learnt on Saturday.
Sources in the Community Development Department (CDD) said that city nazim Mustafa Kamal and DCO Karachi Javed Hanif had approved the summary for purchasing two elephants last month.    
It may be mentioned here that since the death of Anarkali (a female elephant at the Karachi Zoo) two years ago, CDGK was striving to purchase her substitute but the plan delayed due to international restrictions. Now, a tender has been signed in this regard. .
Sources in the city government further said that the firm has been given two to three months time to purchase the elephant.  
But on the other hand, the purchase of some other animals could be delayed due to financial constraints.
It may be noted that one pair of each of the lions, tigers, hippopotamus, rhino, zebra and various other animals was the urgent need of Karachi Zoo and Safari Park but their purchase was delayed owing to certain reasons.
However, the cadges and ponds and other facilities for these animals have been almost prepared.       
Karachi Zoological Garden and Safari Park come under the administration of CDD, and the former has produced excellent result regarding tax collection during FY 2007-08. The CDD collected 57.62 percent revenue, the highest amount in the city government while Karachi Zoological Garden, Safari Park and Landhi Korangi Zoo proved to be the most revenue-generating sectors.
Talking to The Nation, city nazim Musftafa Kamal said that two elephants would be purchased, one each for Karachi Zoo and the Safari Park, and final approval has been given in this regard. He said that planning to purchase other animals was also in progress.