Canadian to donate lions to Kabul, concerns raised
Date: 01-Feb-02
Country: CANADA
Author: Russell Blinch
The Northwood Buffalo and Exotic Animal Ranch northeast of Toronto has two 18-month-old, and as yet unnamed, lions that are ready to be shipped to Kabul to fill the vacuum left by the death of Marjan, who survived battles, coups and even a grenade attack before finally succumbing in January to old age.
Zoo owner Norm Phillips said that with all the warfare and hardship the people of Afghanistan have endured they deserve to have attractions such as lions in their zoo.
"We thought the lion meant a lot to them with just what the people have gone through," Phillips told Reuters yesterday. "It's just somewhere they can go for a day to forget about their problems."
But not everyone thinks it's a good plan, including the World Society for the Protection of Animals, which played a big role in helping to treat the one-eyed Marjan in his last days.
"I think it's a crazy idea," said Pat Tohill, a spokesman for the Toronto office of the society.
"I think that while the animals would be better off at a modern zoo than a roadside establishment like Northwood, but shipping them half way around the world is nuts."
But Phillips is determined to gather support and sponsors for his plan to donate the male African lions and has contacted his local member of Parliament to drum up government support. He wants the gift to be from all of Canada.
He said the lions would be shipped in specially made containers and he would travel with them.
Alex Shepherd, the parliamentarian who represents the zookeeper's electoral district, initially said he fully supported the plan. He has won verbal support from Canada's Foreign Affairs Department for the idea and said another constituent with an aircraft company has come forward with an offer to fly the animals to Kabul.
But when told of the apprehensions of the animal protection society, he said: "That is a concern and we would have to look into it."
Marjan was actually a gift from Germany some 38 years ago, and survived the Soviet occupation, coups and most recently the U.S. bombing raids that ousted the Taliban.
Half-blind, lame and almost toothless, the beast was subjected to daily taunts and teasing from almost every visitor to the run-down Kabul zoo.
And while there have been donations to restore the zoo, the World Society for Protection of Animals is aghast at the idea of sending them more animals.
"I'm staggered that anyone would think the zoo could possibly be in a position to take in any more animals," said a spokesman from the society's London office.
