Survey on Existing Status of the Animals in Rangpur Zoo of Bangladesh

Zoos are primarily such facilities where animals are confined within enclosures, and in which they may also be bred. Such facilities include safari park, aviaries, butterfly park, and reptile center as well as wildlife sanctuaries and nature reserves. In Bangladesh zoos are- Chittagong Zoo, Comilla Zoo, Dhaka Zoo, Dulahazra Safari Park, Bhawal National Park, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, Nijhum Dip Park, Rajshahi Zoo, and Rangpur Zoo. Within these only Dhaka and Rangpur is the government zoo and others are private. Safari parks are good for observing the animals with biodiversity in a natural state where animals live freely and can perform natural breeding. Many of today’s zoos hope to stop or slow the decline of many endangered species. Many zoos see their primary purpose as breeding endangered species in captivity and reintroducing them into the wild. However, zoo advocates argue that their efforts make a difference in wildlife conservation and education [1]. Bangladesh zoos are associated to donate or exchange of the animals with Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain. In any zoos need an animal museum, vet hospital, investigation and research section [2]. Shortages of manpower, supply of feed, care, enclosure maintenance, various establishments, protection, conservation, guidelines for common visitors, and administration all are not positive in this zoo. There is no vet hospital, isolation room, and vet surgeon so it is being burden to detect the diseases of zoo animals. Immediately need to establish new buildings. Present administrative office of the zoo is under the place of horticulture. There is no vehicle of this zoo. This zoo earns a lot of revenue from various sources- pond lease, canteen, children park, parking, and garden. Sex identification of some animals and exchange male or female is urgent in this zoo. The objective of this study is to solve above adverse situations.

Observed animals: In Rangpur Zoo there were total 30 animals. In reptilian group animals are- Rock Python (Python molurus), Gavial (Gavialis gangeticus), Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), in birds- Greater and Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius and L. javanicus), Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii), Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia), Purple Moorhen (Porphyrio porphyrio), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Brahminy Kite (Haliaster indus), Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indica), Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria), Common Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), Demoiselle Crane (Grus virgo), Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus), Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina), Barn Owl (Tyto alba), Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius), and mammals are-African Lion (Panthera leo), Indian Tiger (Panthera t. tigris), Asian Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus), Striped Hyena (Hyaena striata), Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta), Olive Baboon (Papio anubis), Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious), Spotted Deer (Axis axis), and Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix indica) (Table 1).

Table 1: Present organogram.

Manpower

*updated 19 March 2014 by Deputy Curator of Rangpur Zoo.

Huge visitors’ come in zoo with their family. It has a great value to collect information from them about animals. Its safety measure for the public and cleanliness of the cages all are very important for a perfect zoo. After entering the people in zoo, a survey type questionnaire, MCQ and short type answer script was provided to collect information. Sometimes a short interview was completed within the zoo as a pilot program (Table 2).

Table 2: Comments sheet of the visitors.

NB Please fill-up this form and put in the comment box when you will leave this zoo.

In this zoo, for the heavy weight of python snake its egg cannot hatch. For avoiding this incident need to buy an incubator machine immediately. All Gharials are female here; need to exchange these reptiles with other zoos. Greater Adjutant, Purple Moorhen, Parakeet, Demoiselle Crane, Cassowary, Lion, Hyaena, Baboon, Hippopotamus, Porcupine, and Donkey needs female (Table 3).

Table 3: Present status of the animal in Rangpur Zoo.

*LR=Least Risk; LC=Least Critical; EN=Endangered; NT=Near Threatened; VU=Vulnerable; D/P=Domestic/Pet; MEF=Mixed Evergreen Forest; W=Widely distributed; S=Sundarbans; AC=Asian Countries; IS=Indian Subcontinent; AEA=Asia Europe Africa.

are sometimes another major causes for attack. Need to handle in circus animals while it is performing [3]. Zoo also remains opens to the visitors during government holidays [2]. Wildlife tourism [4-7] and ecotourism [8] have been published which were the best guide to the beginners. Finucane and Dowling [3] made a study on perception of ecotourism operations in Western Australia. Distribution of ecotourism services of Bangladesh and its potentials with development were described by [9,10]. Anorexia and vitamin deficiency are very common to the zoo animals. Elephants usually travel around 30 miles each day and sometimes perform headbobbing, bears sometimes pace the surrounds of their enclosure, wild cats sometimes groom themselves obsessively, and parrots have been known to pluck themselves. Elephants have been recorded displaying stereotypical HYPERLINK

“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypy_%28nonhuman% 29”behaviours in the form of swaying back and forth, trunk swaying or route tracing. This has been observed in 54% of individuals in UK zoos [11]. Elephants in European zoos have shorter lifespan than their wild counterparts at only 17 years, although other studies suggest that zoo elephants live as long those in the wild [12]. There are animals that are injured in wild but live healthy and happy life in zoo.

During feeding the zoo animals and poor enclosure can be dangerous for visitors in zoo. If zoos are concerned with recreation park causes problem of zoo animals. In some mini zoos, some authority’s free adjutant-stork and emu but it can be fatal to people. Safari park can be a good way for conservation of animals. Research is must for the welfare zoo animals but need to maintain huge scientific precautions. In breeding season, most zoo animals always show anger. For avoiding such conflicts with the human or among them, we should know their exact breeding season. For the purpose of treatment of the zoo animals especially carnivorous animals their careful handling is very important. Experienced animal trainer should appoint in zoos. Newly introduced animals in zoos are suffered some common illness with anxiety and depression. Visitors should apply their sympathy to all animals. Serve the leaflets to visitors before entering in zoos. Ensure a job for a Zoology student/Wildlife Researcher in any zoos. Maintain a register and comment box for the future prospects of the zoo. Weekly seminar is important for sharing the current status of all animals and establishments. Make a special list of carnivorous or man-eating animals. Zoo can be a key point to the practitioners and academics for research [13,14].

Author is giving special thanks to the Deputy Curator A. S. M. Nasir Uddin Khan of Rangpur Zoo, Bangladesh for delivering complete present status of his zoo. He mentioned animal status, their feed, disease and treatment. In addition, he mentioned his foreign life when he took part in Denmark for the degree of PGT. Veterinary Surgeon Mr. Nasir was very cordial officer who allowed me in his zoo and delivered all information during walking within the zoo. He permitted me to write this article and was a proofreader of this manuscript.

No conflicts of interest.

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