Pakistani elephant beats keeper when meals late

The Lahore Zoo authorities on Saturday urged philanthropists and educational institutions to adopt Suzi, the only elephant at the zoo. The zoo officials said the zoo was running an Adaptation Scheme to encourage people to adopt and feed animals. Under this scheme, they said, as many as 18 animals had been adopted from 2001 to 2005.

Under the Young Friend Scheme pigeons, large cats’ cubs, chimpanzees, rabbits, monkeys, ostriches, wallaby and deer were adopted. Through this scheme the zoo collected Rs 8,538. Under the Parent of Zoo Scheme (1998 to 2006) about 48 birds and animals including a peacock, a gray parrot, a chimpanzee, a red deer, a leopard, a pelican, a rabbit, a crane, a gibbon, a macaw, a wolf and a kangaroo were adopted. The total income collected through this scheme was Rs 711,459.

On conditions of anonymity, an official said due to the lack of space and scarcity of food Suzi had become aggressive. He said the zoo authorities were looking for any organisation or a philanthropist to adopt Suzi, but to no avail. He said, “When Suzi is not fed on time, it holds its master’s cane in its trunk and starts beating him.”

Lahore Zoo director Yousaf Pal said, “We don’t have enough funds to feed Suzi, as its expenses are more than our budget.” He said many philanthropists had been asked to adopt Suzi, but to no avail.”