KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has removed a senior director of Karachi Zoo and Safari Park over his alleged negligence in providing treatment to a rare white lion that resulted in its death.
In a letter written to the provincial local government department, the KMC said that Senior Director Zoo and Safari Khalid Hashmi has been removed from his post and is being directed to report to the local government department.
He has been replaced by Mansoor Qazi.
A starving lion, whose video went viral over the deplorable conditions of animals at the Karachi Zoo, died on Wednesday.
Read more: ‘Starving’ white lion dies at Karachi Zoo
“Deeply grieved to hear the African lion at #KarachiZoo has died. A statement from zoo said he died of tuberculosis and an autopsy is underway. I am devastated. TB is contagious…and they had lioness in same enclosure,” said a tweet by journalist Quatrina Hosain.
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) spokesperson confirmed the death, saying the lion had been suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis and was ill for the past 13 days.
He said the lion was being treated by veterinarians but could not recover and died due to his illness after his lungs stopped working. The lion was around 14 to 15 years old and was brought to Karachi Zoo from Africa in 2012.
