- Responding to decision to move Dep. of Zoological Gardens under Ministry of Tourism
By Naveed Rozais
Zoos are a constant topic of debate among the animal welfare community. One side of the argument is that zoos bring people and animals together, educating people on the amazing diversity of the Earth’s species and creating a safe space for animals and humans to engage and interact. On the other hand, zoos, no matter how humane, breed and raise animals in captivity, keeping animals penned in against their will.
Regardless of where one falls in this debate, one thing is clear: It is necessary for zoos and similar institutions to be at the top of their game when it comes to the welfare of animals and responding to crises within their domain.
In Sri Lanka, up until 2020, the Department of Zoological Gardens fell under the purview of the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation. The Department, contrary to popular belief, doesn’t consist solely of the Dehiwala Zoo; it also includes the Pinnawala Open Zoo, the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, and Ridiyagama Safari Park in Hambantota.
Under the formation of the new Government in 2020, it has been announced that the Department of Zoological Gardens will now fall under the Ministry of Tourism, causing concern among animal rights activists across the country with regard to the welfare of the 100 elephants and many other zoo animals in the care of the Department.
In response to this decision by the Government, Rally for Animal Rights and Environment (RARE) held a press conference on 27 August to increase awareness of the potential adverse effects of this decision on the care of and wellbeing of the animals under the care of the Department of Zoological Gardens.
The panel of speakers included Ven. Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thera and veteran animal rights/welfare activist Manoja Weerakkody from RARE, who shared their concerns on the suitability of the Department of Zoological Gardens falling under the Ministry of Tourism.
The panel shared that the Ministry of Tourism is not geared to be able to effectively look into animal welfare, in part because in the scheme of tourism, zoos and zoological gardens are considered exhibits and sources of revenue, which can lead to animal welfare being neglected.
In addition, the panel shared that the Ministry of Tourism is ill-equipped to respond to situations like ill or injured animals in a timely manner, explaining that when animals are sick or injured, they need to be treated by vets as quickly as possible. While the Dehiwala Zoo does have vets that can do this quickly and effectively up to a certain point, vets with expertise in dealing with wild animals and exotic species are provided by the Ministry of Wildlife whenever needed. With the Department of Zoological Gardens being under the Ministry of Wildlife, as it has in the past, it is somewhat easy for this to be facilitated and for the animals in need to receive care and treatment quickly.
The new move of shift the Department of Zoological Gardens falling under the purview of the Ministry of Tourism will add a level of bureaucracy to this procedure that could very likely deprive animals in need of treatment, and even result in higher animal deaths. The panel shared that the Ministry of Tourism is simply not equipped to look after animals in the way that the Ministry of Wildlife is.
Leaving aside situations of urgency, the panel also shared that the Department of Zoological Gardens is bound by regulations, norms, and protocols they need to follow in terms of how animals are kept and fed, adding that these regulations and systems require them to work closely with the Ministry of Wildlife. The removal of the Department of Zoological Gardens from the purview of the Ministry of Wildlife leaves a lot of room for error, especially due to gaps in the bureaucratic procedure.
While noting that there are indeed benefits to be had from the Ministry of Tourism’s involvement in the Department of Zoological Gardens, the panel shared that animal welfare is very likely not to be taken seriously by the Ministry of Tourism in the larger scheme of things.
The panel stressed it is in the best interest of the animals involved for the Department of Zoological Gardens to stay under the purview of the Department of Wildlife and Forest Conservation.
Representatives of RARE and the Animal Protection Trust are due to meet with Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation C.B. Rathnayake this week to discuss potential ways forward.