A zoo is an institution where animals are kept and are exhibited for public purposes, and I believe every city must have a local zoo, because most of us cannot afford to visit African safaris or the exotic animals wandering in Sanctuaries or Parks.

Zoos play a vital role in educating children. It also helps our children to visualize and distinguish the nature of unrelated animals, as well as learn about conservation and the threat to the specific animal species, which hopefully will encourage them to respect and protect the animals further. Animals are equally important to the world, just as we human beings are.

For the animals, Zoos provide shelter and breeding ground if they are endangered species. Zoo also saves animals from being hunted illegally. If anything goes wrong with the health of the animals, Zoo veterinarians are always there to look after them. Good zoos provide the animals their meals timely.

Zoo in Udaipur

Udaipur has a small zoo situated within a garden called Gulab Bagh. The garden is also known for its varieties of flowers and greenery but the zoo is in very unfortunate state.

Most of the cages are empty, animals are suffering due to lack of maintenance, the cages are dark and dirty and no security guard is there to stop visitors from harassing the animals. Birds are packed in a small cage with little water; there is no veterinary team to take care of ailing animals.

It is a total disaster and heart breaking. Lately, it came in news that zoo of Udaipur will be closed forever and all animals will be shifted to Sajjan Garh sanctuary.

Now, where will our children get their education about the importance of animals?

Instead of clearing out the zoo, the government should enhance it with more facilities for animals. Gulab bagh zoo is an important asset of Udaipur and a part of tourist attraction.

**Have mercy. Do not make it worse than a lock up for criminals. Let our children understand the importance of animals to this world and do not destroy such an easy educational source for them. **