Govt shuts down Lahore Zoo

Authorities in Punjab have decided to close the Lahore Safari Zoo for 15 days starting March 11 to carry out essential maintenance and repairs, officials said.

The closure will allow annual construction work and infrastructure upgrades to be completed ahead of the Eid holidays, a Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department spokesperson said.

During the shutdown, all animals will undergo comprehensive medical check-ups to ensure their health and wellbeing, the spokesperson added.

Lahore Safari Zoo periodically undergoes renovations to improve facilities for both animals and visitors. The zoo is expected to reopen before Eid with upgraded amenities.

Moreover, in another development, a 7-year-old Asian bear who was kept in illegal captivity and used for baiting (for fighting with trained dogs) in Punjab’s city Jauharabad (Khushab) was rescued earlier this week.

The nonstop rescue operationfrom Vienna to Lahore; from Lahore to Jauharabad and then from Jauharabad to Islamabad ended with safe landing of the poor creature at the animal rescue & rehabilitation centre (previously Murghazar Zoo) of Islamabad.

According to details, the rapid response team from global animal welfare organisation Four Paws, under the lead of Dr Amir Khalil (a well-known name now in Pakistan in animal rescue) launched a prompt rescue and relocation mission on the request of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and the Punjab Wildlife Department and relocated the poor creature to Islamabad’s animal rescue centre.

The male bear named ‘Rocky’ by the team was earlier confiscated by the authorities from illegal private custody after he had been subjected to severe abuse as a baiting bear.

He was abused in 35 fights so far it was informed and his condition was pretty bad severely injured with several bleeding wounds on his face and back.