Lahore malls offer bird’s eye view

Colourful parrots on display at numerous shopping centres

LAHORE: Eidul Fitr is around the corner, giving Lahoris a chance to get into the holiday spirit and go on shopping sprees. But what is shopping without entertainment and many malls of the city have started giving shoppers the chance to interact with some rare and precious bird species. Organiser Rana Naeem tells Express News says they started displaying birds at the shopping malls a week ago and the initiative has been taken to promote a love for the animals. "These birds are precious across the world. Therefore, children visiting malls with families enjoy taking pictures with them."

He shares that the Macaw parrot is one of the unique species that families can pose with. “Children throng the malls and react with excitement when they see the large and colourful Mazaw parrots. They also try to touch the birds and take selfies,” he adds.



Naeem says arrangements for children to take selfies with a Macaw perched on their shoulders have also been made. However, a small fee is charged for this. “Some Macaws on display and cannot be found in any park or zoo all over Pakistan.”

He explains that the Scarlett Macaws are a South American breed. A pair costs around Rs0.1 million. "It's such a colourful bird that whoever looks at it gets lost in the colours," he gloats. “Similarly, there is an American Macaw parrot which is most intelligent and can live up to 50 or 60 [years of age] and learn 200 to 250 human words. Many children get scared while touching and settling these birds on their shoulders, but they all become friends soon."



A teenage girl, Fiza, who is visiting a mall on Walton Road, says she is surprised to see such big and beautiful birds. "I have only seen such birds on television, but today I am witnessing them in reality."

Another child, Saif Ali, says he has never seen such birds in zoos and parks. "I am seeing them for the first time over here. I would love to keep birds at home and as precious they are, they cannot be kept at home."



A woman named Sidra Yasir says that they have come for shopping, but the children aren't budging from the birds. “They are selfies and collecting information about them.”

Sharing details about the care of the birds, Naeem says that they turn to experts, while doctors carry out a weekly checkup.

“These birds are fed almonds,” reveals Naeem. He adds that if a precious bird dies, it is embalmed instead of being discarded. "I hope others love birds and care for them the same way I have.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2018.