News
The sorry state of the Dehiwela Zoo
Facilities offered to the hundreds of thousands visiting the Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala are as wretched as the living conditions of animals and other species in its precints.
Despite authorities making millions in revenue from entrance tickets, facilities offered to visitors borders on zero. Visitors to the zoo have no proper eating outlet. Other essential facilities such as a source of clean drinking have been reduced to a trickle by way of wayside taps
Insiders say the water scarcity has been artificially created by unscrupulous traders involved in the sale of bottled water. They claim it has been carried out with the connivance of certain errant zoo officials.
Worse is the plight of many of the animals and other species housed in the complex.
Their situation is pathetic with some species close to starvation as our pictures show. Added to this witches brew is the conduct of some minor employees whose behaviour borders on being rude.
The situation got so bad, that on Friday evening the police had to be called in to round-up half a dozen minor employees who were found to be in a highly intoxicated state.
 Has starvation reduced these animals to bags of bones? |
 Visitors are forced to have meals on park benches |
 The once thriving restaurant is now an empty shell |
 Insiders say the water scarcity has been artificially created |
 Empty bottles and other rubbish litter the cages.. |
 This once proud king of the jungle appears to be reduced to penury |
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