A sanctuary in peril: Last giraffe dies as Gazipur Safari Park left in neglect
Park officials claimed the giraffe had been suffering from tuberculosis and was under treatment, and a six-member veterinary board was formed to treat the animal, but all efforts failed
Once envisioned as Bangladesh's own window into the wild, the Gazipur Safari Park has now turned into a graveyard of mismanagement, corruption, and animal suffering.
On Thursday (23 October), yet another tragedy struck the park, its last remaining giraffe died after a prolonged illness.
Park officials claimed the giraffe had been suffering from tuberculosis and was under treatment. A six-member veterinary board was formed to treat the animal, but all efforts failed.
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"Despite continuous medical attention, the giraffe succumbed to illness on 23 October," the park's acting officer, Tarek Rahman, told TBS. The giraffe was buried inside the park premises following a post-mortem examination.
A general diary (GD) was filed with the Sreepur Police Station the next day by park wildlife inspector Raju Ahmed, who mentioned that the giraffe, an adult female, had died under treatment at around 4pm on Thursday. Police have since launched an investigation.
With the death of its last giraffe, Gazipur Safari Park has lost not just one of its most iconic creatures, but a living emblem of its founding dream. The once-majestic giraffe now lies buried within the park's grounds, marking the quiet extinction of yet another species from its enclosures.
The park stands eerily still, the kangaroo pen has remained lifeless since 2022, the lemur zone abandoned, their silence echoing through the once-vibrant trails that were meant to celebrate the harmony of wildlife and wilderness.
A grand vision lost and a parade of deaths
Established in 2013 across nearly 3,690 acres at Bagher Bazar, Gazipur — modelled after Thailand's Safari World and Indonesia's Bali Safari Park — the Gazipur Safari Park was envisioned as a sanctuary for wildlife conservation, public awareness, and eco-tourism.
In its early years, the park brimmed with life: lions, tigers, giraffes, zebras, kangaroos, lemurs, macaws, parrots, and hornbills introduced from different countries roamed its open landscapes.
Visitors journeyed through the park in secure safari jeeps, watching animals wander freely, or climbed tall watchtowers to glimpse a wilderness that once pulsed with vitality and promise.
But within a decade, that vision has withered. Behind the lush façade now lies a grim reality of mismanagement, neglect, and exploitation. Unnatural animal deaths have become alarmingly routine, revealing systemic failures in oversight and care.
Multiple inquiry committees have identified negligence and administrative lapses, yet no tangible reform has followed.
A safari park should not be just a place of entertainment, but a place where people learn love and empathy for animals
The trail of deaths began drawing national concern in late 2021, when a lion and a wildebeest died under suspicious circumstances.
Between January and February 2022, the park lost 11 zebras, a lion, and a tiger. That same year, its last kangaroo perished, followed by the death of a female lemur in February, officially blamed on a heart attack, though no independent review was released.
By the end of the year, the giraffe population had begun to collapse. Another died in October 2023, and the final one succumbed just last week.
Today, Gazipur Safari Park stands as a shadow of its promise. The once-lively lakes, where white and black swans glided gracefully, are silent and still, reflecting a sanctuary that has lost not only its wildlife but its soul.
Theft, trafficking, and vanishing animals
As if the wave of deaths wasn't enough, reports of animal theft and trafficking have further stained the park's reputation.
On 22 March 2024, three African lemurs, two juveniles and one adult, were reportedly stolen from their enclosure. Despite a police diary being filed, none have been recovered. The lemur zone now lies empty.
In November 2023, two macaw parrots were stolen, allegedly with the help of park staff. Only one was recovered after a police operation. The other remains missing. One staff member was quietly transferred, but the theft and trafficking ring, many believe, still operates freely.
Earlier this year, on 16 January, a nilgai (Asian antelope) disappeared without a trace. Several park employees and forest officials are suspected of involvement, yet no disciplinary action has been taken.
A call for urgent reform
In April 2024, amid rising criticism, eminent environment activist Syeda Rizwana Hasan, now environment, forest and climate change affairs adviser, visited the park.
Expressing dismay, she said, "Those responsible for the disappearance of rare species must face exemplary punishment, not mere dismissal. The penalty must be strong enough to ensure no one dares repeat such negligence."
She also noted visible signs of distress among elephants and jaguars and said that while some animals live in natural-like conditions, many others suffer from poor welfare standards.
"A safari park should not be just a place of entertainment," she said, "but a place where people learn love and empathy for animals."
On Saturday afternoon, Rizwana Hasan was informed by this correspondent that the last giraffe at Gazipur Safari Park had died. The message also noted that although an investigation committee had submitted a report and Rizwana had previously urged action, no visible steps had been taken, warning that the park was "on the path to destruction" due to a lack of accountability.
In response, Rizwana said the latest incident was unrelated to earlier investigation, explaining that the giraffe had suffered from tuberculosis and had been treated in isolation.
Attempts to reach the senior officials of the Safari Park authority for a comment have so far been unsuccessful, as phone calls have remained unanswered.
