Punjab

Rs500m allocated for setting up wildlife conservation centre

State-of-the-art centre will be environmentally sustainable to keep wildlife species

APP January 30, 2023

According to wildlife department officials, the wildcat got injured as it attacked the mammal and in the course of action, fell off the peak. SCREENGRAB

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government has allocated Rs500 million under the Public Service Development Programme (PSDP) for the proposed “wildlife conservation and information centre” to be established at the now abandoned Marghazar Zoo.

After the Islamabad High Court issued orders to vacate the Islamabad Zoo of animals over poor upkeep, care and management and shift them to more spacious sanctuaries across the country, the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) proposed to convert the zoo into a state-of-the-art and environmentally sustainable conservation centre to keep local wildlife species — mostly found at the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) — in open enclosures for public entertainment, education and research purposes.

IWMB Chairperson Rina Saeed Khan said the blueprint designed by well-known architect Raza Ali Dada was ready for setting up the world-class wildlife conservation centre under the biodiversity conservation efforts.

She said that the major issue of the possession of the zoo land had been resolved as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has transferred 25 acres to the IWMB. She said that the civic agency has also issued a no-objection certificate for establishing the conservation centre and all codal formalities have been completed. The IWMB chief said that a node from the federal cabinet was awaited and once it gave the green light, work on the centre will begin.

She said that the project concept (PC-I) for the “Margalla Wildlife Centre” had been submitted and soon approval will be sought.

Rina Saeed said that several international non-governmental organisations working on wildlife conservation such as 'Free The Wild' and others have shown interest in collaborations with the IWMB, particularly in the capacity building for better management of the centre.

She said the board has rescued and rehabilitated several black bears and more work was needed to be done for their safety.

The IWMB chairperson said that the wildlife centre, proposed by the climate change ministry would have advanced technological solutions to provide wildlife information to visitors. “It would be the first virtual reality centre to bring ‘visitors close to animals.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2023.