By ABDUL HAKEEM KHAN
The Zoo is a short form for Zoological Gardens, an enclosure where wild, living animals are kept for scientific study and public exhibition and flower shows on seasonal basis.
Zoos provide entertainment to the people of all ages and especially young ones. The management of the Zoo charges minimum entry fees from the visitors.
Karachi Zoological and botanical garden has a remarkable history. It was founded in Karachi in 1876 on 33 Acers.(130,000 sq. meters) and now 880 animals of different spices at Lawrence Road (Now Nishtar road) Karachi. In the past it was known as Mahatma Gandhi Garden. In 1861 it was transferred to municipality by the Government.
In 1878 the municipality put the Zoo under a trust to be developed out of public donations. Earlier, it was one time again opened to public in 1881.
In 1947 at the time of Independence, the name of the Zoo was changed to Karachi Zoological Garden’s or Karachi Zoo. Karachi Metropolitan Cooperation setup a Zoo curator and a professionally qualified veterinary doctor for it.
In 1991-1992 the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) remodeled the Natural History Museum. Later that year the Japanese Princess open it at a special ceremony of the re-modeled Natural History Museum. At present total strength of Karachi Zoo is about 240 staff members.
Attraction sites
1) Elephant house is the most attractive place for young ones. There are two females African Bush elephants namely Noor Jahan and Madhu Bala for entertainment.
2) White loins: In 2012 they were purchase and a big draw for the Zoo.
3) KMC aquarium was constructed in the Zoo area in 1953. It has a total 28 fish tanks which consist of about 300 different kind of fishes (about 30 species).
4) Muhgal Garden was founder in 1970 has green lawns, trees, flower beds. Mughal’s like fountains, multi colour flowers. Occasionally flower exhibitions and Government events are organized in it.
5) Natural History Museum was established in 1992, is popular attraction in the Karachi Zoo. The skins of stuff animals, antlers, horses and plumages etc are put on display in it. The facilities are used by Zoology students, researchers and educational motives.
6) Reptile’s home was renovated and extended in 1992. In it there are 13 species of Snakes, lizards, Crocodiles and new born hatchlings of test dines are also show publically.
7) Veterinary Hospitals was founded in 1998 in it with modern diagnostic facilities an operation theater equipped with X-Ray and Sonogram facilities, multiple sick bays, a laboratory and an incubation room.
8) There is long Pond for ducks, Seagull’s and small fishes in it birds prey.
9) A small hotel for food stuff and cages for animals and birds.
Renewal and Refurbishment work of Karachi.
According to Karachi Mayor on 8th Feb, 2018 the restoration of old buildings cages and sites to a good condition and updated of the Karachi Zoo has been started to it as an International Standards. In this respect The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has been approach to comfort help and provide technical cooperation to this Zoo project. On this point of project the Government of Sindh earnestly had granted Rs.30 million for the Zoo uplift.
The KMC efforts are worthy. Moreover, the Zoo project have setup a botanical garden and a wild sanctuaries where captive animals would be kept in natural environment. The cages would be changed by enclosures with all essentials requirements. In the Zoo project toilets and other activities would be stipulated to the pupils or visitors and tourists. To a greater extent free Wifi service will be provided.
In addition to construct boundary walls, a ground water tank of 2 lakhs gallon capacity is under construction. Renewal and refurbishment of the entrance gates. There will be a provision of walking tracks and cycling path would be chalked out in the Zoo premises for the visitors. All the above amenities in a nut-shell will improve the Karachi Zoo standards to International Standards.
Published in Young Nation Magazine on March 17, 2018