Coming soon: Marghazar Zoo to get a lion, an ostrich and an elephant

Tendering process to acquire the new animals would be initiated soon: CDA chairman.

ISLAMABAD:

The environment conservation campaign recently launched by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) might have an unexpected beneficiary — the dilapidated Marghazar Zoo.

CDA Chairman Tahir Shahbaz visited the zoo on Wednesday as part of his endorsement for the conservation campaign and announced that the zoo will soon feature three new animals — a lion, an elephant and an ostrich.

Shahbaz said the zoo is the centre of attraction not only for residents of Islamabad but also tourists that visit the federal capital. He termed improvements to the zoo the “need of the hour”.

The zoo has not had a lion since 2001, after a pair of lions died and the zoo later donated its cheetahs —the only remaining big cats — to other wildlife parks due to its own inadequate facilities.

In addition, a female elephant named Saheli, along with a nilgai and a blackbuck all died this year.

A quality zoo will add to the recreational facilities in the city and would provide an entertainment avenue for children, Shahbaz said. He said the tendering process to acquire the new animals would be initiated in the near future. He was accompanied by CDA Environment Member Kazim Niaz and other environment officials.



Phase-1 of Marghazar Zoo’s expansion plan, which had to extend the zoo over 82 acres, has been completed at a cost of Rs19.37 million, CDA Spokesperson Ramzan Sajid said. Work on phase-2, which would cost Rs632 million, will start after its tendering process is completed.

The CDA launched its environment protection campaign on Monday, with an aim to protect the biodiversity of the capital. The civic agency has solicited the support of schoolchildren, environmentalists and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in spreading awareness about conservation and cleanliness.

Niaz said the campaign will include activities in the Margalla Hills National Park such as hiking, training on vegetation management, plantation, improvement of degraded areas, picnic spots and other environmental conservation measures.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2012.