INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Helmand Environmental Protection Department recently opened a newly-built Zoo in the city of Lashkargar, in southern Afghanistan, in a bid
to protect the nation&& s wildlife.The Zoo, which reportedly cost US$ 600,000 to construct, is now home to 52 species of animals and
birds.Zoo officials said that throughout 40 years of war in Afghanistan natural forests were destroyed, and the number of wild birds and
wild animals have dwindled.Officials stated by developing the zoo, they want to have the ability to prevent the termination of some regional
birds.They have however interested the government to take the issue seriously and support their efforts to safeguard Afghanistan&& s
wildlife.Helmand resident & s have actually invited the effort and have actually likewise attracted the government to provide the zoo with
support.Helmand Environmental Protection Department authorities stated nevertheless that when the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) went
back to power in August 2021, the authorities prohibited logging, and the hunting of wild birds and wild animals.These authorities stated
that over the past three years they rescued dozens of wild animals that were held in captivity by members of the general public
The majority of these were launched back into the wild.Afghanistan has long been known for having diverse wildlife but many of the larger
mammals in the country are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as worldwide threatened.These include the snow
leopard, Marco Polo sheep, Siberian musk deer, markhor, urial, and the Asiatic black bear.Other species of issue are the ibex, the gray
wolf, and the brown bear, striped hyenas, and various bird of victim species.Most of the Marco Polo sheep and ibex are being poached for
food, whereas wolves, snow leopards and bears are being killed for damage preventionSnow leopards, Siberian tigers and brown bears reside in
the high elevation alpine tundra regions while the Marco Polo sheep specifically reside in the Wakhan Corridor region of north-east
Foxes, wolves, otters, deer, wild sheep, lynx and other big cats populate the mountain forest area of the east.The post Helmand
environmental department opens brand-new Zoo initially appeared on Ariana News.
