All over the country, a growing number of well -meaning individuals feed stray cats, birds and wild animals, no matter where they find them, and offer the food they have on hand. But wildlife experts warn that this charity may possibly do more harm than good.

Animals in nature – and even those in captivity – are best suited to the food found in their natural habitats, veterinary experts told The Express Pakinomist. Human food, they added, can disturb their diets, weaken their ability to feed or hunt and expose them to illness.

In northern tourist areas and urban centers such as Lahore, the growing tendency to feed wild animals – from monkeys and pigeons to cheetahs and eagles – raises alarms among conservationists. While many do so to capture memorable photos or as a charitable gesture, experts warn that practice could have long -term consequences for animal health and behavior.

In regions like Galiyat, wild monkeys have learned to grab food from visitors while in Lahore in Lahore they routinely leave millet and water hills for birds outside their homes. Even birds of prey, such as Eagles, have been observed cleaning near busy roads such as Canal Road and Ravi River Bridge, drawn by the easy accessibility of human delivered food.

Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, a professor at the Institute of Zoology at the University of Punjab, said wild animals have survived for centuries what their natural habitat provides. “These beings are used to the food, nature offering. Human food – burgers, chips, bread and processed snacks – not to meet their nutritional needs and can lead to malnutrition, bone disease and other health problems,” he said.

Fahad Malik, who leads a conservation group, said regular hand -feeding interferes with the natural instincts of the animals. “When animals get used to being fed by humans, they tend to give up their natural hunting habits. This addiction can be dangerous, especially if the human delivered food suddenly stops. Furthermore, it is more likely that animals that lose their natural fears of humans come into conflict with humans,” he said.

Comment on practice warned Dr. Rizwan Khan, a senior veterinary officer at Punjab Wildlife, that feeding wild animals increases the risk of zoonotic diseases and unintended injuries. “Wild animals that have been contingent on approaching people to food often wander near roads, raising their chances of accidents. Their digestive systems are not designed for processed human food, which sets them with a higher risk of illness,” he said.