Zoo gardens are meant for keeping specimens of the fauna available in a particular locality. But Erfurt Zoo in central Germany has seen incidents that can even put a poacher into shame. The zoo keepers have been allegedly killing the captive animals to sell their meat in the local market. Pigs, deer, springboks, and many other species have been found butchered and sold to the nearby market for a large sum of money. The entire thing may have been continuing for a long time, the authorities fear. There is thought to be a good market for unusual meats in that region. The probe is in progress, and the director has resigned over the scandal. A recent report confirms.
Human interfere in natural resources has always been deadly to the animals. To restore some ecological balance national parks and sanctuaries have been formed all over the world, but with little or no effect. This time the incident happened in a zoo garden, where the species live in captivity. This is nothing but the most inhuman abuse of humanity to kill an animal for the purpose of butchery in a condition like this. This kind of crime needs to be dealt with stern severity so that crime of this kind can be stopped all over the world. For years this activity is in progress and the zoo authorities did not have even a clue of it. This also explains the deep rooted problem in the entire infrastructure.
With this event on sight, there remains a question on the existing zoo gardens. Are they really required in today’s world? Keeping animals in captivity and creating their lives miserable, with reducing their animal instincts, are these zoos doing anything beneficial for the animals? Moreover poachers are targeting these places as their easiest hunting ground with the help of some corrupt zoo employees. Now the time has come to re think about this issue. If really needed, the zoo gardens should be provided with adequate security and will have to be designed keeping in view to the animal comfort. Otherwise may be a complete change in infrastructure is inevitable.
Source: Dailymail