Jos – Tourists visiting the Jos Zoological Garden have expressed concern over the state of the animals in the zoo.
Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited the 60-year-old zoo, observed that most of the animals looked very malnourished, with the lions looking particularly emaciated.
NAN also reports that the chimpanzees are particularly looking sick, as most of them looked dispirited, disconsolate, and indifferent to respond to the bustle of the visitors around their cage.
Unlike them, the animals were slow to pounce on the bananas and groundnuts hurled into their cage.
NAN also observed that the birds were rather inactive with the usually noisy ones perching quietly at little corners.
Similarly, the garden, which used to be a very beautiful major tourist site for visitors from different parts of Nigeria, has become rather desolate with very few callers far in between.
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NAN further observed that most of the cages that used to house many wild animals had become empty, making the facility even more uninteresting and deserted for the few curious visitors
A tourist, Mr Bala John, expressed sadness over the bad state of the zoo, which he said, was usually his first port of call anytime he was in Jos.
“The Jos zoo was usually a beehive of activities for tourists from within and outside Jos, but that has now become history and this is sad,” he lamented.
“lackadaisical attitude of government” in the handling of the tourism sector, and expressed regret that such a rich sector of the economy was being neglected.
“The sector has the potential to generate a lot of revenue, generate jobs and boost the economy; but we do not seem to give it the needed attention.
“It baffles me a lot that government has decided to abandon tourism just because we have all our eyes on oil, which will soon expire.
“If the government in Plateau, for instance, can dedicate a little percentage of its annual budget to develop the tourism sector, I can assure you that the state will be the envy of others because nature has blessed us with everything.
“The Jos zoo, which attracted everyone in the 80s and 90s, is now in a sorry state.
“So, to me, the government should invest more in tourism because it is one sector that does not depreciate; it will create a lot of jobs and boost our economy.”
On her part, Mrs Sarah Gyang, a regular visitor at the zoo, decried the poor feeding of the animals in the zoo.
Gyang said it was a pity that most of the animals looked malnourished and unappealing to sightseers.
She also decried the unhygienic state of the garden, saying that the environment was no longer attractive enough to excite tourists.
“The essence of visiting a zoo is for one to take out time and relax; one can only relax when the environment is serene and good looking.
“Also, one can only enjoy his visit to a Zoo when the animals are looking fresh, agile and very healthy.
“Unfortunately, the Jos Zoo management has since abandoned the old and better ways of making tourists enjoy their visit and everyone has scampered away.
“Nobody, including the younger ones, is interested to come because the excitement is no longer there. The animals are not agile, and there are no new ones added to the old ones one met last year.”
When NAN asked to speak with the manager in charge of the zoo, Mr Dibal Adamu, he said: “Ì can’t speak with you without permission; I am sure you know that.” (NAN)
