Zoo tiger in the wild: A utopian story

The fact is that Dhaka Zoo has successfully propagated two extinct local species like common peafowl and Nilgai and a good number of critically endangered species like Bengal Tiger, Rock Python, Samber and also some exotic species. Dhaka Zoo acts as a nucleus of all other zoos of Bangladesh. It gives all sorts of technical advice in the field of veterinary care and zoo management. Dhaka Zoo has good record of donating animals to its sister zoological gardens in the country. Moreover, Dhaka Zoo also donated a good number of animals to friendly countries like U.A.E, Bahrain, Iraq and K.S.A.

At present Dhaka Zoo has some valuable species in excess in its stock. To mitigate/ solve this problem, the high powered Advisory Committee of Dhaka Zoo has formed an Inter-Ministerial Committee with the representatives of Dept. of Livestock Services, Dept. of Forest and IUCN. This Committee in its 2nd meeting mentioned that Dhaka Zoo authority will take a strong initiative to exchange/ donate these excess animals with/to the zoos at home and abroad. They further mentioned about reintroduction of zoo animals in the wild. They strictly pointed out that the committee members from Dept. of Livestock Services, Dept. of Forest and IUCN will verify and justify this matter within the provision of the relevant guideline, issued by the Survival Specialist group of the World Conservation Union and also the Quarantine and Health Screening Protocol for wildlife prior to translocation and release in the wild. The matter was also raised when Dulahazara Safari Park under Dept. of Forest requested Dhaka Zoo for lions and tigers. Now this reintroduction matter is absolutely in a discussion stage.

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According to the booklet "Quarantine and Health Screening Protocol for Wildlife Prior to Translocation and Release into the Wild" published by O.I.E, IUCN, EAZWV and Care for the Wild International (Z.O.O. Z.E.N., October, 2002) we know that "the release of animals, whether for translocation from one wild population to another, the introduction of captive-bred animals into a natural wild population, or the return of rehabilitated animals into the wild after varying periods of time in captivity, has become commonplace in recent years. The success of potentially expensive, high profile translocation projects depends to a large extent on the care with which the wildlife ecologist and their veterinary advisors evaluate the suitability of the chosen release sites and the ability of the translocated animals to colonize the area".

The World Zoo Conservation Strategy has expressed in an executive summary ( Species and Habitat Conservation: Direct Zoo Contribution- Section 3) that, "In accordance with the IUCN position statement on translocations of living organism issued in 1987 -- such reintroduction and restocking project, when properly applied, can bring great benefit to natural biological systems. Reintroduction and restocking projects have been undertaken with more than 120 species." So, it is not a new theme.

Further, the World Zoo Conservation Strategy emphasized that-- "Well prepared and managed reintroduction and restocking projects are of crucial importance to gather knowledge and experience of future efforts. Scientifically based projects therefore deserve full support of zoo community, IUCN/SSC specialist groups and conservation authorities. Such projects are not likely to be successful within only a few years, rather than require long-term commitment of all parties involved". So, Dr. Reza's reintroduction phobia is not based on scientific belief. Rather we say it is utopian.

It was expected to verify the truth whether we have expressed the message in that way or not. He is not an unknown person to us because we are in touch with him in various ways. In his write-up he puts some comments regarding the role of veterinarian which is very objectionable. It seems that he is trying to embarrass Dhaka Zoo authority.

Md. Mofizur Rahman is Curator of Dhaka Zoo.