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Artist Captures The Heartbreaking Reality Of The Bangladesh National Zoo (15 Pics)
When we were children, the zoo seemed like a magical place full of adventures where we could discover exotic animals, ride carousel horses or other animals, or simply observe animals that we only saw in cartoons. Inspired by our childhood cartoons, we believed that once the zoo gates close, the animals would start talking, go on adventures, and have lots of fun. But not all of us ever thought about how these animals really feel standing there as mere objects of display while everyone's watching every step they take. Only when we grew up, we realized that they actually don't go on magic adventures or have lots of fun. They are simply caged in small spaces far away from their families and natural habitats for visitors to stare at them.
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Not all the zoos are like that but Shafiqul Islam tells a story about the worst conditions for animals to live in Mirpur Zoo in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Shafiqul is a professional photographer from Dhaka, Bangladesh. He tries to express his feelings and thoughts through his photographs. The artist loves animals and enjoys photographing them, therefore, this project called "Prisoners" was really important for him to express his feelings towards these horrible conditions for animals to live in Mirpur Zoo. The photographer uses his lenses to show what these animals really feel. For the most part, sadness and loneliness.
The people who do this are the ones that need to be chained, not the innocent animals.
How can humans do this to a wonderful animal ? Maybe the zoo directors should trade places with the animals !
just awful ...wish so much someone would get them out into somewhere better..It is as if they are all in the worst jail and the poor animals have done no wrong..how can they treat these poor souls like this.
This is so, SO wrong. Cruelty is always wrong but this one get me the most. Elephants are among the most intelligent and sensitive animals on this planet. They deserve better than this.
What crimes have they committed? With what heinous acts of atrocity are they charged?
I am so sorry and sad that this is still going on no animal should be in a zoo away from their natural habitat in this day and age so so sad
This is vile! How can anybody do this to a sweet innocent Elephant? This isn't meant to be an animal circus.
"Going to [the] zoo is one of many ways for people to entertain themselves. Besides that, people also go there for educational purposes or to do research. However, the main purposes of [the] zoo is to protect wildlife and let all of us understand the importance of nature. There are many exotic animals that bear the chances of dying out in the wild. Therefore, [the] zoo plays [an] important role [in] for saving the endangered animals. But in Mirpur Zoo, the case is quite ironic. The visitors go there with the expectation to see the fun, playful side of the animals. Sometimes the animals and the birds are forced by the visitors to act in such way. But the visitors can't see the actual situation inside the cages. The fear, the hunger, the pain and the sadness... it seems like the animals are kept as prisoners without committing any crime!" - the artist told Bored Panda.
what species of animal is this? It looks like an extremely sick chimpanzee?
"Here is a photo story of such animals in Mirpur Zoo in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The story is not about the carelessness or the poor job done by the zookeepers. It's about the pain of the animals that are kept in insufficiently small areas or cages, out of their habitat. If people look into their eyes and feel the emotion and expression deep enough, they might hear the silent screams as well."
"My inspiration to do this long term project came from the expressions of the suffering animals. Once I went to visit the zoo and felt like they are not even close to being happy. I wondered how would I feel if I was kept in a small room and provided as little food as just to live, that broke my heart and thought I should express their pain through photographs." - explains the artist.
OMG He's so desperate to get out. These photos are killing me. These animals are dying a slow painful death....there's not enough money in Bangladesh to feed them, then pls pls do not have a "zoo"
Why is this allowed? Why is this not against the law? Can't someone save these poor souls? please.
Bro keeping a chimpanzee in a zoo is basically like keeping a human in a cage,they share 98% of their dna with humans!we should feel shame for making our closest living relatives go through such torture.
This is an important and disturbing post but also it is dangerous one, as this is evidenced by some of the comments here. This zoo and many in poorer countries are horrific and should not exist and that is what the point of this post is, BUT as I can see from the comments post like this just continue to promote hate against zoos in general. In a perfect world it would be great if zoos didnt need to have to be but this is far from a perfect world. Many Zoos around the world do fantastic conservation work not only for the animals they house but in the wider context. It is vital the environment,diet and behavioural patterns are as close as normal and many zoos provide a fantastic life for animals and are saving many creatures from extinction. Chester ,Edinburgh,San Diego and Singapore are fantastic places, there are many others but I have not been so cant say with from my own experience . https://www.escapehere.com/inspiration/the-12-best-zoos-in-the-world/
Not every place needs a zoo, though. These animals are in a terrible place.
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Why are they being treated like this. Why aren't people doing something. This is horrible, disgusting, and the fact that it seems that its still happening is f*****g horrible. I found a petition to save the lion that I hope some people may sign, as I did, however it may or may not change the horrible conditions that these animals live in. Tell people about this and maybe the right people will hear, but meanwhile do what you can to save these poor, tortured, animals. Petition: https://www.change.org/p/mirpur-zoo-save-the-severely-malnourished-lion-at-bangladesh-national-zoo
Many animals would be dead and even extinct if it weren't for the good zoos. I know that many of the animals in American zoos wouldn't even begin to survive in the wild.
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ALL zoos and Marine Parks suck for the animals! Do you want to stop this suffering, then STOP GOING TO THESE PLACES!
Okay, look - I understand not liking zoos, especially where they obviously don't have the funds to properly care for the animals (and the picture of the elephant in chains is horrific), but there's a "photo assumption" thing happening here. Meaning, if you photograph anything in this lighting, it will look haunting. It's like the ASPCA ads showing dogs looking pitiful in the snow when guess what? My dog loves lying in the snow and gives me that pitiful, woe is me look when I call for her to come inside. I guess I mean be wise in your reactions to media, especially when the producer of the media has a point of view to disseminate.
No, many zoos participate in impactful conservation programs and rescue injured or orphaned animals (and return them to the wild, if possible).
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I have a cold, dark cavity where my heart should be but if I did have a heart, it would be shattered right now.
Update: showed this to my brother (he adORES monkeys and primates of all kinds) and his response to literally every picture sounded like a wounded animal. I am certain his heart is broken.
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My family was going to go to a zoo this summer, I don't know if we should still go. Are all zoos like this?
No, most zoos are beautiful places with large habitats for the animals.
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Not really suprised that a country that is best known for its child labor and more recently horrifying rape cases of women and children care nothing for animals.
Why don't people rise in outrage and shut down this horrific mind-boggling cruelty?
Youre using black and white to make it look more depressing and terrible.
Why can't we go in and rescue the animals and put the keepers in the cages? And many ask why I have a total dislike for the human race (not all, but most).
This is torture and the ones responsible should be imprisoned in one of these cages, for life.
This is a great post but I wished the photos would show more of the surroundings. I know that the intention was to bring focus on the animals themselves and the emotions of their faces and posture, but some just look super underexposed. If you're going to denounce the living condition of those animals, you need to show us the living conditions of those animals.
My opinion is they need to put their humans in the cages.that is inhuman. Sad
A horror. I'm not able to give a thumb up, it's as if I liked the pictures, and I don't. Such a zoo should be closed, the animals released, and those in charge hanged by the balls in some public place, so everybody could see them and understand the hint behind.
It's disturbing to see a zoo not being used as intended (to HELP animals!). This zoo is doing the exact opposite and needs to be shut down. I only hope that these animals are not too far gone to be helped.
Hmmm i take all these 'i hate Zoo's' - people don't have pets? I do not dislike Zoo's when animals are treated nicely and with respect, i have been to such Zoo's and animals are looking pretty relaxed and well fed. Zoo's that mistreat their animals and abuse them for money are the worst though...
There are no words to express the anger and sadness this post brings up inside me. The people working/running this zoo should be treated the same way the animals are...
i hate zoo's, this photographer should come to the US and photo the humans Trump has in cages
If you hate Zoos and you live in the US try the Brox zoo or San Diego zoo or Smithsonian in DC , not all zoos are the same . America does some great conversation work even if Trump is trying to stop all that.
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These are way too sad. I never was fond of zoos even the newest updated ones are still sad.
Zoos are prisons and most do nothing for conservation. Baby lions are often killed - the adult lions breed (males aren't neutered because then they would lose their mane, which is of course "unacceptable"), now everyone wants to see the babies that mysteriously "have to be hand raised" most of the time, and then - surprise! - no zoo wants to take them because they're all full. It's b******t and anyone who thinks zoos exist to help animals is naive af. Besides, what's the point of keeping a species alive if its habitat in the wild is completely gone? The individual animals don't benefit from it, they just exist to amuse visitors. Please stop giving your money to zoos.
It is disgusting and disturbing. Never understood how a human can find an innocent animal which is in captivity, captivating. Stolen freedom is not amusing and beautiful. If people stop vising these zoos, it would automatically get closed. Wildlife sanctuary should be promoted instead of zoos.
Its horrible. I never go to any sort of zoo cause even when the cages look better than the ones on these pictures, they are still cages. Wild animals deserve to be in the wild, not be held in captivity. Its sad to see how humans treat other animals.
This is an important and disturbing post but also it is dangerous one, as this is evidenced by some of the comments here. This zoo and many in poorer countries are horrific and should not exist and that is what the point of this post is, BUT as I can see from the comments post like this just continue to promote hate against zoos in general. In a perfect world it would be great if zoos didnt need to have to be but this is far from a perfect world. Many Zoos around the world do fantastic conservation work not only for the animals they house but in the wider context. It is vital the environment,diet and behavioural patterns are as close as normal and many zoos provide a fantastic life for animals and are saving many creatures from extinction. Chester ,Edinburgh,San Diego and Singapore are fantastic places, there are many others but I have not been so cant say with from my own experience . https://www.escapehere.com/inspiration/the-12-best-zoos-in-the-world/
Not every place needs a zoo, though. These animals are in a terrible place.
Load More Replies... Why are they being treated like this. Why aren't people doing something. This is horrible, disgusting, and the fact that it seems that its still happening is f*****g horrible. I found a petition to save the lion that I hope some people may sign, as I did, however it may or may not change the horrible conditions that these animals live in. Tell people about this and maybe the right people will hear, but meanwhile do what you can to save these poor, tortured, animals. Petition: https://www.change.org/p/mirpur-zoo-save-the-severely-malnourished-lion-at-bangladesh-national-zoo
Many animals would be dead and even extinct if it weren't for the good zoos. I know that many of the animals in American zoos wouldn't even begin to survive in the wild.
Load More Replies... ALL zoos and Marine Parks suck for the animals! Do you want to stop this suffering, then STOP GOING TO THESE PLACES!
Okay, look - I understand not liking zoos, especially where they obviously don't have the funds to properly care for the animals (and the picture of the elephant in chains is horrific), but there's a "photo assumption" thing happening here. Meaning, if you photograph anything in this lighting, it will look haunting. It's like the ASPCA ads showing dogs looking pitiful in the snow when guess what? My dog loves lying in the snow and gives me that pitiful, woe is me look when I call for her to come inside. I guess I mean be wise in your reactions to media, especially when the producer of the media has a point of view to disseminate.
No, many zoos participate in impactful conservation programs and rescue injured or orphaned animals (and return them to the wild, if possible).
Load More Replies... I have a cold, dark cavity where my heart should be but if I did have a heart, it would be shattered right now.
Update: showed this to my brother (he adORES monkeys and primates of all kinds) and his response to literally every picture sounded like a wounded animal. I am certain his heart is broken.
Load More Replies... My family was going to go to a zoo this summer, I don't know if we should still go. Are all zoos like this?
No, most zoos are beautiful places with large habitats for the animals.
Load More Replies... Not really suprised that a country that is best known for its child labor and more recently horrifying rape cases of women and children care nothing for animals.
Why don't people rise in outrage and shut down this horrific mind-boggling cruelty?
Youre using black and white to make it look more depressing and terrible.
Why can't we go in and rescue the animals and put the keepers in the cages? And many ask why I have a total dislike for the human race (not all, but most).
This is torture and the ones responsible should be imprisoned in one of these cages, for life.
This is a great post but I wished the photos would show more of the surroundings. I know that the intention was to bring focus on the animals themselves and the emotions of their faces and posture, but some just look super underexposed. If you're going to denounce the living condition of those animals, you need to show us the living conditions of those animals.
My opinion is they need to put their humans in the cages.that is inhuman. Sad
A horror. I'm not able to give a thumb up, it's as if I liked the pictures, and I don't. Such a zoo should be closed, the animals released, and those in charge hanged by the balls in some public place, so everybody could see them and understand the hint behind.
It's disturbing to see a zoo not being used as intended (to HELP animals!). This zoo is doing the exact opposite and needs to be shut down. I only hope that these animals are not too far gone to be helped.
Hmmm i take all these 'i hate Zoo's' - people don't have pets? I do not dislike Zoo's when animals are treated nicely and with respect, i have been to such Zoo's and animals are looking pretty relaxed and well fed. Zoo's that mistreat their animals and abuse them for money are the worst though...
There are no words to express the anger and sadness this post brings up inside me. The people working/running this zoo should be treated the same way the animals are...
i hate zoo's, this photographer should come to the US and photo the humans Trump has in cages
If you hate Zoos and you live in the US try the Brox zoo or San Diego zoo or Smithsonian in DC , not all zoos are the same . America does some great conversation work even if Trump is trying to stop all that.
Load More Replies... These are way too sad. I never was fond of zoos even the newest updated ones are still sad.
Zoos are prisons and most do nothing for conservation. Baby lions are often killed - the adult lions breed (males aren't neutered because then they would lose their mane, which is of course "unacceptable"), now everyone wants to see the babies that mysteriously "have to be hand raised" most of the time, and then - surprise! - no zoo wants to take them because they're all full. It's b******t and anyone who thinks zoos exist to help animals is naive af. Besides, what's the point of keeping a species alive if its habitat in the wild is completely gone? The individual animals don't benefit from it, they just exist to amuse visitors. Please stop giving your money to zoos.
It is disgusting and disturbing. Never understood how a human can find an innocent animal which is in captivity, captivating. Stolen freedom is not amusing and beautiful. If people stop vising these zoos, it would automatically get closed. Wildlife sanctuary should be promoted instead of zoos.
Its horrible. I never go to any sort of zoo cause even when the cages look better than the ones on these pictures, they are still cages. Wild animals deserve to be in the wild, not be held in captivity. Its sad to see how humans treat other animals.
