The Management of Splash Park, the directors of the small zoo in Kaduna has shut its entry ways, restricting anybody including...
Journalists from obtaining entrance into the zoo where photographs of a destitute lion which became a web sensation few days back were taken.
Reporters detailed that their media man was stopped from getting to the zoo on the reason that the creatures were on routine treatment and that just a letter from the state government will allow Journalists access to the place.
The Manager of the Zoo, Innocent Ameh purportedly said the photos moving on the web were not from the zoo. Ameh further expressed that he was under strict guidelines by the Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture not to permit anybody gain access into the zoo. He admits seeing the photos of the underfed creatures on the web yet says he dismiss the fact that the photos were from the zoo.
The zoo supervisor likewise affirmed that the normal treatment which will include vaccination had initiated on Friday November 13 yet couldn't plainly tell media men when it will end.
According to Ameh;
"Some wildlife experts came with a letter from Abuja that they saw some pictures and they wanted to see the lion. We showed them to confirm because of their letter and it was even feeding time so we gave the lion goat and they said: ‘heh social media.’ So this issue of social media, it was just like some years ago they said the lion killed someone.
“It is normal for the animals to be isolated during routine treatment because they are being vaccinated, so it will be risky to allow people to have access to them while this is going on."
Anyway when Kaduna State Commissioner of Agriculture, Halima Lawal was reached, she exposed the case and furthermore said they can't give such order as the zoo was a personal business and not claimed by the state government.
Laawal said;
"That zoo is for a concessionaire, it has been privatized and it is not run by the Kaduna State government. It is run by the private person that they gave the zoo to who is responsible for looking after the animals as a money generating venture."
