AUTHORITIES will carry out an inspection at Bahrain’s main wildlife sanctuary following claims that animals were confined in small cages and exposed to the scorching summer heat.
It comes after a video and pictures of birds and animals at the Al Areen Wildlife Park and Reserve were shared on social media.
Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) senior environmentalist Ali Mansoor said a team would visit the park today, while the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) carried out its own inspection yesterday.
“We have been alerted to the videos, pictures and claims,” Mr Mansoor told the GDN.
Report
“We understand the BSPCA visited the park and is also preparing a report.
“A team from the SCE will visit the facility, inspect these claims and submit a report, based on which further decisions will be taken.”
However, he said Al Areen officials had reassured him that the images shared on social media did not tell the full story.
“I personally spoke to Al Areen officials who said the pictures presented only part of the story,” he said.
The pictures and footage were shared on the Bahrain Stray Cats Facebook page by 25-year-old American student Colleen Hegarty, who argued conditions at Al Areen were not suitable.
“Many of the animals at Al Areen seemed distressed and highly uncomfortable in their small enclosures and Bahrain’s excruciatingly high summer temperatures,” she told the GDN.
“The enclosures most animals are kept in are unsuitable – not only are they often too small for the animals, they often do not mimic what a natural habitat would be for these animals in the wild.
“I agree that some of the native animals at Al Areen may be accustomed to these hot temperatures, but they would not be confined to such small areas in the wild.
“Ideally, I would like Al Areen to send non-native animals to sanctuaries where they will be properly cared and provided for.
“For animals native to this area, Al Areen should create an actual wildlife centre for them, rather than keeping them in a zoo-type environment.”
Another member of the group, Indian Natasha Nelesh, argued there was no longer a need for zoos.
“I don’t think that we need to have zoos for educational purposes in this day and age with Internet,” she said.
“There should be an agreement with Al Areen to relocate the animals to their natural habitat.”
However Al Areen mammals section head Issa Al Awadhi dismissed claims that the animals were uncomfortable, including a lion featured in the pictures and video posted on social media.
“The picture shows the lion sitting in front of its room, which is one of the two parts of its cage,” he told the GDN.
“It was just that moment when the lion was relaxing that the video was captured and displaying it on social media was an act that was done not in good taste.
“We welcome all who have concerns about the animals to come to us and meet us in person.
“We will show them the facility – every animal is well taken care of.
“What the people see is the open space in front of their rooms, while these rooms behind the space are air-conditioned and the animals are free to move around.
“We have three lions and all the animals are well fed and medically checked weekly – and the place is kept clean.
“The BSPCA team visited the place and they have taken pictures.
“We urge people to see the real situation and we will be soon responding to the posts on Facebook.”
BSPCA chairman Mahmood Al Faraj told the GDN his team was shown the animals’ air-conditioned quarters and given assurances from staff that basic welfare needs were being provided.
“The BSPCA reiterated its previous advice on enriching the animals’ lives,” he added.
Al Areen is home to 82 species of birds, 25 plant species and 45 mammal species.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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