A National Stink
Text and Pictures By Pavithra Jovan De Mello
The Dehiwala National Zoo. We have all been here at least once in our lifetime- some many times. The place currently needs a thorough overhaul. Some of the animals’ cages are either too small or not in a good condition, and the sanitation services for the visitors are disappointing. A few safety hazards like a broken railing, and also a slide in the children’s play area which actually has a jagged edged hole towards the base, has been ignored by the management.The stench coming from certain cages can be unbearable at times, and the cage for the lion seems too small, making the king of the jungle appear lethargic, as he has no space to prowl. Utilities such as taps for drinking water and commodes in the toilets were broken and not maintained.
when my five year old son was asked to write about a visit to the zoo he wrote just two sentences. “I hate zoos” and “Why must being be in cages”.
Your son is right. Today, people should be in cages, at least in Sri Lanka,
Your son is a n idiot. Zoos do lot of research on animals and conservation and breeding.
This is third world SL, so what more can you expect.
The National Zoo was one of the best in Asia at one time and how it ended up in sorry state is pathetic to say the least. The Director who was there during the 70s did his job by the animals and the workers too respected him. His love fore animals was unspeakable and being a Zoologist he was extremely knowledgeable about his charges. His dedicated band of employees washed cages maintained sanitary conditions to the best of their ability. Above all they were supervised as the Director would walk the entire length and breadth of the zoo morning and evening. This kept the employees on their toes. You could never see them getting into clicks and gossiping or relaxing in the canteen. Neither could you ever find them inebriated. Since his retirement the zoo plummeted downhill. The rot that set in could never be repaired or remedied and this is the result.
They charge people to show a sad state of affairs. Let people complain continually and write comments on visitors’ book. Never be satisfied with the poor show when they could provide a better entertainment for the money paid. The way they treat the animals no doubt will break hearts of sensitive people. Those who go there have a duty to roar for the shabby treatment given to the lion. Who can be happy to see silently suffering animals in their insufficient spaces? As long as the visitors keep quite about the pathetic situation in the zoo, the management may think they can hoodwink the visitors as well as the caged animals. Those who have seen foreign zoos of course know the difference our zoo offers.
The Dehiwala zoo should be renamed as “Dehiwala Torture chambers”. A fine example of animal cruelty by none other than a governmetal organization.