Beyond the cages: What would it take to turn our national zoo into a natural sanctuary?
The Bangladesh National Zoo now stands as a relic of outdated ideas, where concrete cages and undertrained staff define the experience. As the world reimagines zoos as spaces of conservation and compassion, experts shed light on steps to help turn Dhaka’s zoo into a safari park
If you want to learn about wildlife, the 186-acre Bangladesh National Zoo in Mirpur is far from the ideal destination. On the other hand, if you want to do a case study on how not to run a zoo, it is the right address.
Step inside and you will feel it instantly: this is less of a sanctuary for animals and more of a monolithic structure. Tigers pacing circles in cramped enclosures, elephants swaying listlessly, and bears bored out of their minds; the zoo does not look like a celebration of wildlife from any angle, rather it is like a reminder of how dated ideas can linger long after the rest of the world has moved on.
Across the globe, zoos have been busy reinventing themselves. They are no longer just menageries where exotic animals are displayed for human amusement. The modern zoo has morphed into something else entirely — a blend of conservation hub, research centre, and immersive landscape where the welfare of animals actually takes precedence over visitor selfies.
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Yet in Dhaka, the clock seems to have stopped, and the gap between what the zoo is and what it could actually be has grown into a chasm.
Traditional zoos, like the one in Mirpur, were designed for people (visitors), not for animals. Cages and concrete are essential parts of the architecture, creating a spectacle for humans while stripping animals of dignity.
Dr Reza Khan, who served as Principal Wildlife Specialist in Dubai and managed the city's zoo until its closure in 2017, does not mince words when he describes how outdated this approach is.
"The modern zoo concept is based on blending humans and animals into a shared environment, not on confining animals to cages. Visitors should feel guided through a naturalistic landscape, either with human guides or through self-navigation using signs, boards and interactive displays that provide information at their fingertips," he said.
In Dhaka, by contrast, faded signboards and steel bars still define the visitor experience.
The mismanagement goes deeper than infrastructure. As Dr Khan explained, "In our country and much of South Asia, animals are still managed harshly, and zookeepers often lack proper academic training. Many are promoted from day labour without the formal knowledge necessary to ensure the welfare of wildlife."
That absence of expertise translates into stressed animals and missed opportunities.
Rakibul Haq Emil, the founder of People for Animal Welfare (PAW), is equally blunt.
"Regarding our Mirpur zoo, there has been talk for a long time that it is not really up to international standards," he said. "There is no proper breeding policy here, and when you breed animals in captivity, the animals start adapting to that environment."
In other words, there is no vision, no strategy, and no science guiding the way.
Elsewhere, things look very different. The shift away from cages began more than a century ago, when Carl Hagenbeck, a German animal dealer, introduced the moat system. Invisible water barriers replaced bars, creating the illusion of freedom while maintaining safety.
Over time, these systems evolved into elaborate ecosystems. "In the past, each species was kept separately, with water barriers and shelters for feeding and care," Dr Khan explained. "Over time, these moats evolved into ecosystems — wetlands with birds, monitor lizards, crocodiles, or gharials — while nearby enclosures housed deer, and further still, tigers, with each species visible to the other but safely separated by invisible barriers."
Today, the best zoos resemble curated landscapes rather than cages. The theming is often local: forests, grasslands and rivers. Hidden infrastructure keeps the illusion intact. Veterinary dens are tucked behind hills. Water tanks are disguised as cliffs.
"Landscapes could be modelled after local features like a Sal forest or historic landmarks such as the ruins of old palaces or forts — Baliati, Karatia, or even Lalbagh Fort — places where tigers once roamed centuries ago," Dr Khan suggested. The point is to make the environment feel natural not just for visitors but for the animals themselves.
In Singapore, glass tunnels let humans walk through habitats as lions prowl above them. In London, an outer campus lets visitors drive through open spaces where animals roam freely. The goal is to bring humans into nature, not lock nature into cages. The Bangladesh National Zoo, by comparison, still clings to the philosophy that a bear in a concrete pit is enough to entertain a family on a weekend.
The modern zoo concept is based on blending humans and animals into a shared environment, not on confining animals to cages. Visitors should feel guided through a naturalistic landscape, either with human guides or through self-navigation using signs, boards and interactive displays that provide information at their fingertips.
Against such a backdrop, the question often raised is whether Bangladesh National Zoo could be transformed into a safari park. The safari is, after all, the global buzzword. No cages, no bars — just wide expanses where animals roam and visitors travel by car, tram or gondola.
But while the idea is seductive, geography and logistics cannot be ignored. "In a safari, animals roam freely in a world that replicates their natural habitat," Dr Khan added.
"In Africa, vast plains and savannas already exist. By contrast, our region lacks such expanses. Since these natural conditions do not exist in most of our region, we must create safari parks artificially." Bangladesh does not have endless grasslands; it has rivers, wetlands, and forests. Building an artificial safari would be a monumental task.
However, Mirpur zoo does have a surprising asset — land. "We have 186 acres of land," Emil noted. "Very few zoos in the world, for example, the San Diego Zoo, are within about 80 acres. So, it is possible to do it here. But our land is still not big enough to create a genuine safari park. Look at Gazipur Safari Park — it has 3,600 acres; yet, they haven't been able to utilise it properly."
The potential is there, but the scale is not. Perhaps parts of the zoo could be reshaped into safari-style enclosures for elephants, zebras, or deer, but a true safari park stretching over the serengeti is a wishful thinking.
What Dhaka can and must do immediately is improve animal welfare. Emil stresses that even without turning into a safari, the zoo could radically improve with small changes.
"Immediate action should be taken to reduce pollution, limit visitors, and provide enrichment inside enclosures. Bears, for example, need tires and balls. Puzzle feeders can be introduced, where food is hidden in boxes so that animals have to work to get it out", Emil further said.
Enrichment is not a luxury; it is essential to prevent animals from descending into lethargy or madness.
Dr Khan highlighted another cornerstone of modern welfare — trust. "Such relationships turn caretakers into trusted companions rather than enforcers. A giraffe will lift its leg for inspection, or an animal will calmly extend a limb for blood collection." That kind of bond is built over years, through kindness and consistency. In Dhaka, animals are too often handled through intimidation, a method that belongs in the past.
The deeper issue is purpose. What exactly is the Bangladesh National Zoo for?
"What is the purpose of these animals being confined?" Emil asked. "If it is only for entertainment, then it is just a middle-ground concept of animals confined for human amusement. Is it playing any real role in conservation?"
The answer is a resounding no. There is no serious breeding policy, no conservation programme, and no research collaboration. Education is reduced to signboards — some of which still tell visitors, quite bizarrely, that porcupines eat bread. In the twenty-first century, when zoos abroad offer interactive displays, guided tours, and digital learning, Mirpur zoo feels like a relic of chalkboard pedagogy.
Politics has only compounded the problem. The zoo is riddled with vacancies in key positions, while essential services like food stalls are leased to politically connected individuals. The result? Loudspeakers blaring music in what is supposed to be a sanctuary for sensitive animals.
Emil is visibly frustrated about this. "These leases are often given without proper policies, usually to politically connected individuals. As a result, loud music and other forms of sound pollution disturb the environment. This is unacceptable in such a sensitive area."
None of the aforementioned changes requires a grand "master plan." Animals do not have the luxury of patience. "Ensuring these things right now is my only desire. What happens later, we can decide later," Emil insisted. That means enrichment, expanding enclosures into unused land, cutting down on noise, and retraining staff. None of these changes would cost billions. They simply require will.
The reality, however, is sobering. Dr Khan strongly feels that despite updates, most zoos and safari parks in our region do not meet international standards.
Dhaka zoo is not uniquely bad, but it is uniquely stagnant. With 186 acres, it has the bones of something better. But without trained professionals, proper breeding policies, or international accreditation, it will never achieve the credibility of a modern zoo or turn into a natural sanctuary for animals.
