“AWNN is presently conducting a zoo check of the Central Zoo. Basically the zoo due to its small size, its location, and incredible high number of visitors (over a million per year)is unable to meet acceptable standards. The five freedoms for all species are denied for almost every animal. Visiting the present zoo is a depressing experience. AWNN will campaign for the move of the zoo to different location. The present zoo can be kept as a children’s park with farm animals.”

This is very good news indeed. You can read about the work of AWNN here:

http://awnnepal.blogspot.com/2010/08/awnn-conducts-zoo-check-in-central-zoo.html

Our policy is to work with the local people, educating them regarding conservation as well as trying to improve their lives at the same time. In Nepal for example when we funded the building of the sanctuary we also funded the building of an orphanage and school. We bought the land around the orphanage and have provided the villagers with crops/vegetables and paddy fields, taught them how to grow them in order to help them grow not only enough food to survive but eventually to have enough to be able to sell as well. We employed locals to carry out the building work using local resources where possible. The land we have bought has been placed in trust for the orphans.

In working with the local community we have reached a stage where now when a stray animal (tiger/rhino etc) wander into villages looking for food instead of the locals killing them as they would have even as little as 2 years ago, they contact us to come and get them.

One of our first tasks was to dredge and clean Lake Beeshazari and the surrounding water ways. We followed this up with water boring, installing water pipes and giving the villagers a sustainable water supply. In return the villages work as teachers in the school or general staff in the orphanage as well as staffing the sanctuary.

Recently we have also funded a Health Centre. It has been amazing to watch as the locals have learned to respect the local environment and the animals alongside their own lives improving as they learn to farm the land and work in partnership with the animals. The school curriculum includes the important core subjects, maths, English and science as well as agriculture and animal care tailored to suit the local needs. It’s very satisfying work as you can imagine.

We were the ones who rescued Narayani orphaned and near to death aged just 11 months and took care of her for over 5 years until her transfer to Kathmandu Zoo in January. It has been very hard to say goodbye to her, she was part of our extended family for so long. I am still pining for her to be honest and hate not being able to just pick up the phone and ask one of our staff in Nepal how she is doing!

My experience of the Nepalese people is that whilst in the main poor, they are very hard working, decent, caring people. I am sure they will do the best they can at the zoo in admittedly difficult circumstances but it doesn’t stop me worrying about “my baby girl”.

The work in Nepal and the DR Congo have been real success stories for us. The boss and I are hoping to visit Nepal in the next year to 18 months, I had already pencilled in a long weekend trip to the Royal Parks intending to pitch a tent by the rehab sanctuary and spend the whole time by Narayani. I guess I’ll just have to visit the zoo instead and see her there, although I’m not sure they will be too amenable to me camping by her enclosure for the weekend!

Fingers crossed Arahan or another volunteer revisits your blog and takes pity on me and lets me know how Narayani is doing.

My visit a few years ago now to Kathmandu zoo was a sad occasion for me – as I explained in the blog post above.

In complete contrast are many modern zoos here in Australia. Most of our major zoos are into conservation of threatened species in a significant way. They are making a concerted effort to not only preserve species in decline but are actively involved in educating a generally ignorant public.

In recent weeks I have had the privilege of visiting Taronga zoo in Sydney, Adelaide zoo and Monarto open range zoo (part of Adelaide zoo and only 10 minutes drive from my home). All three zoos are making significant attempts to educate the public and to display the animals in as natural settings as is possible in a small, enclosed environment. In all cases, the welfare of the animals is paramount.

This is in complete contrast with the zoo in Kathmandu.

They have a female tiger there who arrived late last year and I am desperately trying to find out how she is getting on so if anyone out there can help me with that I would be very grateful. She means a lot to me for various reasons I’d rather not go into right now. I would certainly sponsor her if I knew how to go about it, perhaps one of the volunteers who have visited can help me out?

Thank you for any help in my quest! Gayle

I almost deleted your comment Ashween because you sounded very angry.

If the tone of comments continues in this angry way I will close the comments down and not allow any more discussion on this important issue.

Let’s keep it friendly and respectful.