Lahore Zoo goes nocturnal

New food court, illumination planned

LAHORE:

The Punjab Wildlife Rangers have decided to open the Lahore Zoo for visitors during night hours, following the launch of night safari activities at the Safari Park.

Officials say the initiative aims to provide additional recreational opportunities to the public and enhance the zoo's appeal.

According to wildlife authorities, night visits at the Lahore Zoo are likely to begin from February. In the initial phase, only selected sections of the zoo will be accessible to visitors at night.

These include the lion enclosures, reptile house, fish aquarium, and the holoverse area. During the night, the food court, lake, trees, and the zoo's hilly sections will be illuminated with environmentally friendly lighting.

The officials stated that live music performances and puppet shows will be organised on weekends to offer visitors a different experience.

As part of the plan, a new food court will be established in the zoo, where well-known brands will provide services. Tenders for the food court have been invited by January 17. However, wildlife experts said the night safari experience had not proven successful so far with a limited number of visitors despite full staff deployment.

A citizen, Muhammad Owais, said that animal enclosures in the Safari Park are spacious and animals, particularly lions and deer, are more active at night. However, the space in Lahore Zoo is limited.

He added that animals and birds affected by daytime noise and heavy visitor presence would not get adequate rest if night visits were also allowed. Another citizen, Shehrbano, said that

most visitors to the zoo belong to low- and middle-income groups who may not be able to afford expensive food and the additional costs of night outings.

She recalled that in the past, the imposition of additional charges for various services had led to protests and a decline in visitor numbers.

Statistics show that in the first ten months of 2023, around 2.3 million people visited the zoo. After the upgrade, between June and December 2024, a total 1.7 million visitors came, mostly out of curiosity to see the new facilities. Under private management, from January to July 16, 2025,, only 728,000 people visited, while from July 17 to October 19, 2025, only 434,181 visitors showed up. After the administration reduced ticket prices for the new attractions, visits gradually began to improve.