Jallo Wildlife Park’s exclusive treasure trove

Jallo Wildlife Park does not only have the largest variety of deer, but it also has a pair of African deer that is not found anywhere else in the province.

Standing tall in the Wildlife Park, this is a Kodo antelope of African breed.

This animal is known for its large size and strong long horns. They are commonly called Kodo. This species of deer is found in Africa.

This pair of deer is present only in Jallo Park in Punjab.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Adil Nadeem, assistant director, Jallo Wildlife Park, said that the pair of Kodo antelopes was brought here in the year 2018 under the development plan of Jallu Safari Park.

He says that these antelopes have a special identity due to their tallness and strong horns.

They are much taller than a normal deer, just like the sambar or blue cows.

These antelopes eat seasonal fodder, tree leaves and green bushes, but in the Jallo safari, they are given seasonal greens as well as dry straw, seasonal fruits and lentils which improve their health.

Adil Nadeem says that these unique antelopes are found only in Jallo Park in the whole of Punjab.

He said that there was no Kodo antelope in any government zoo in the whole country, but there was a possibility that they might be found at a private farmhouse in a province other than Punjab.

According to sources, six antelopes were brought here in the year 2018, in which there were two males and four females. One of them died during transportation while the other died a few days after being brought here. After that, two more Kodos were seriously injured due to a fight and later died.

Now there is only one pair including one male and one female. Sources also said that the couple had given birth to two fawns in the last three years but had died along with other deer due to Mu Khar disease.

However, the organisers hope that better breed can be obtained from this couple.

Jallo Wildlife Safari also has a large number of other species of deer which include sambar, black deer, spotted deer and blue cows.

Adil Nadeem said that during the current breeding season, eight black deer, five muflan sheep and six spotted deer had been bred.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2022.