First phase of renovations at zoo completed: KMC

Includes three enclosures, water tanks, bathrooms, urban forest, ticketing room

KARACHI: Renovation work at the Karachi Zoo has been completed under the provincial Annual Development Programme, read a statement issued by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) on Sunday.

According to the statement, a meeting, chaired by KMC Commissioner Dr Saifur Rehman, was held at the zoo premises, where KMC officials informed that work on the parking area, ticketing room, three enclosures and the urban forest area has been completed in the first phase. Underground and overhead water tanks have also been built, they stated.

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The meeting was told that remaining works, including construction of other enclosures, an admin block, gate number one, landscaping and a public awareness centre is expected to be completed in the next fiscal year.

Dr Rehman directed the zoo management to ensure adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and precautionary measures in light of the contagion during the renovation work. He lauded the work thus far and noted that the newly constructed enclosures were large enough to house animals such as rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and zebra - for which the Sindh government has already given approval.

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The zoo currently houses 850 different animals and boasts as many as 150 trees, most which are centuries old, said Zoo Director Kanwar Ayub while briefing the meeting. The zoo also has its own aquarium and reptile house, he added.

The commissioner expressed 'hope' that the renovation work at the zoo would be complete by the next fiscal year.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2020.