Introduction:
Islamabad Zoo was situated at the foot of the Margallo Hills, capital of Pakistan, was one of the most favorite places for families and lovers of animals. Formed in 1978 the zoo was created for leisure and information; it housed lions, bears, elephants, and birds of great rarefaction. It was the trail where tourist can have direct touched towards nature having attractive environment of the Margalla Hills National Park. Nonetheless, the said zoo was once under fire as of most of its facilities and the living conditions of its animals are highly substandard. Withholding the animals from any form of human interaction, discomfort, or potential suffering evoked public concern which escalated to demanding change when the plight of Kavon, the world’s loneliest elephant was traction by international animal NGOs. These measures finally helped free many of the animals to the sanctuaries as the zoo was closed in the year 2020. However, the site is still important to the city because it is used to illustrate the importance of proper care and maintenance of animal facilities. The proposal for development of the area as a wildlife sanctuary and a center for wildlife and nature education is also in the pipeline for nurturing and enhancing the conservation knowledge of the area and the bio dip lite in the area accordingly. The zoo did not continue in the physical representation but the teaching and progression made to construct ethical societies for these animals.
History:
Islamabad Zoo also called Marg Hazar Zoo today is situated in the Ibrahim Ismail Zahiri Shrine just at the Double Road drop of the Margalla Hills in Islamabad which was established in 1978. Originally, it was established as a simple wildlife conserving zone and after later years became one of the city’s main symbols. The said zoo had lion, leopard, bear, reptiles and birds with families, tourists, and nature lovers visiting the center. For several years it was also a leisure area but it also became informative community destination, promoting the issue of endangered species. But gradually, Islamabad Zoo rose to infamy mainly due to its bad administration and inadequate living space for the animals. Kavon is one of the most famous cases; Indonesian elephants were kept in isolation and inappropriately, the individual was called the world’s lonely elephant. This brought national and international condemnation and many animal rights groups intervened, including Hollywood stars and Four Paws. In 2020, due to non compliance of animal welfare laws of the country, as decided by Islamabad High Court, the zoo is now closed down permanently. The wildlife, especially many of the animals, were returned and/or transferred to sanctuaries in both, Pakistan and other countries. The closure brought a change of tide in Pakistan’s policy of wildlife protection and rehabilitation. Today designs have taken a new twist, and there are plans of turning the site into a wildlife learning and rehabilitation station, as people embrace humane way of dealing with wildlife and becoming more responsive to the course of the environment. The timeline history of Islamabad Zoo is quite informative and eye-opening when it comes to an understanding to how care must be taken when handling animals for profit.
overview Islamabad:
Marg Hazar zoo later renamed as Islamabad zoo was one of the most popular entertainment centers dedicated to wildlife lovers, marketing in Islamabad adjacent to the Margalla Hills. The zoo was founded in 1978 and at the beginning of this center’s work it was presented as a relatively small sanctuary that later on developed into an impressive place for children and families, tourists and students to visit. Reaching 82 acres in size, it housed many kinds of animals such as big cats, elephants, bears, birds and reptiles. However, yet, visits to the facility allowed people to interact with nature, especially concerning wildlife endowment, the zoo received negative acclaim due to improper amenities and substandard animal husbandry. The public use of the beaches over time was eventually marred by such problems and severally drew the ire of local and international animal rights organizations. The president of Cambodia granted Kavon’s release after the Asian elephant suffered lonely and without companions for years. After active legal proceedings and advocacy activities aided by the help from International nonprofit organization such as Four Paws, Islamabad High court passed a ruling for the shutdown of the zoo in 2020. The animals were then sold or donated to other sanctuaries domestic or international thus closing the functioning of the zoo. There are also existing ideas to restore the area as a conservation and an educational facility particularly in the field of ecology and species diversity. The history of Islamabad Zoo is a combination of the Zoo as a beloved family destination, and the story of a Zoo that became a warning for the necessity of proper treatment for animals and the usage of humane principles in working with wildlife. Its closure has become a milestone on how Pakistan is preparing to prevent the inhumane handling of animals while encouraging the protection of species for future generations.
Animal:
Pakistan’s Islamabad Zoo since it ear begun to operate it was able to host a variety of animals and from all ages, and classes of people. That zoo contained mammals, birds, and reptiles in forms of native and foreign species. Mammals were also common and the favored animals were lions, leopards, Himalayan brown bears, monkeys and deer. Kavain was another famous inhabitant of the zoo who gained wide popularity thanks to his unhappy stay in the zoo and years of loneliness. His case helped focus attention on the problems occurring at the zoo and later profound changes of the situation were made for the better. The section of birds was an assorted display of birds of the region and exotic birds starting with peacocks, parrots, ostriches, eagles etc. Crocodiles, pythons and turtles were among reptiles that enhanced the zoo’s educational and recreation values.
The animal collection was interesting but varied and people began to worry for the welfare of some of the animals. These and other developments of malnutrition, crowding, and inattention to animals’ injuries stirred the concern of animal advocacy groups as well as the general population. As will be seen, the Himalayan brown bears, for example, were reported to stay in wretched conditions with restricted space and environmental enrichment. These problems reached to the peak when Kavain’s case was highlighted around the globe to continue zoos; however, the zoo was shut down with a court judgment in the year 2020. The animals were then moved to sanctuaries – wildlife facilities in and outside Pakistan where the animals’ conditions improved significantly.
The devastating going out of business of Islamabad Zoo was symbolic of a dying period but in the same way it can be a wakeup call for wildlife management in Pakistan. This urged people to have proper treatment and right resources for the animals and pets, they possess. It is now home to wildlife that promote humane treatment and animal welfare in wildlife centers.
loin in Islamabad zoo:
Lion was one of the much visiting animals in Islamabad Zoo and people visit this place to see Lion which is also called the “King of the Jungle”. That zoo conducted African lions which are kept in cages that resemble their natural environment in several ways. However, the conditions of these enclosures over some time become a major area of concern. The basic problem of space, poor infrastructure, and a lack of stimulating activities were criticized for the welfare of the lions. Some of these concerns were a very basic concern with the overall administration of the zoo and more importantly its ability to provide for large predators.
Among the more serious cases Tortora mentioned cases of poor nutrition and lack of proper medical care acutely affected the lions. It was also unethical to keep such gorgeous animals cramped and dull places without the necessary resources needed to care for them properly. These issues joined the general problem experienced by Islamabad Zoo that led to the zoo’s shut down in 2020. This comes after a ruling from the Islamabad High Court that forced the shift of the lions, like the rest of the animals, to wildlife sanctuaries where their situation would be far more bearable.
The experiences with the lions in Islamabad Zoo are an example in point in regard to managing large carnivores in captivity. Allowing people interact with them was thrilling and informative; however, it opened people’s eyes on the necessity of the right treatment of animals. For the first time in Pakistan, the zoo’s shut down meant that there was a realization of appropriate space, concern for conservation and appropriate treatment of animals. Today the lions that used to free-range in Islamabad zoo continue as lessons for enhancing the life quality for the wild animals.
parrot in Islambad zoo:
Parrots were one of the most bright and interesting birds that a visitor could have seen in Islamabad Zoo amazing with the rich colors of their feathers and amusing character. The zoo had all types of parrots regularly ripe for display and these included the statutory Alexandrine parakeets alongside the African grey parrots and the parrots that are well known as macaws. Owing to their bright feathers, high degree of alertness and capacity to imitate sounds, they were most preferred by families, children included, who loved watching these exciting birds go about their business. Parrots were kept in flight cages that offer them possibilities to fly and also had ‘dirty’ environment with perches, toys, and nesting boxes, plants.
Although these birds are loved by so many people all over the world, the parrots at the Islamabad Zoo like any other animal endure strain because of lack of funds and poor management. Claims were made regarding small enclosures for the aviaries where the parrots are confined, and no input that challenges the parrots’ intelligent minds. Something s similar to this along with complains about insufficient veterinary care and improper diet sometimes was heard as well pointing to the fact that it is not easy to keep such advanced standards as a public zoo.
The zoo was shut down in discussion about welfare of animals including parrots and the animals that remain caged till 2020. After receiving a court ruling, the parrots were transferred to sanctuaries and rehabilitation center’s which can provide them with required conditions. This was a major step for animals living in Pakistan and provided them with a footing toward their proper treatment.
These parrots at Islamabad Zoo presented the aesthetic beauty of bird species of the world and also made human understand that they cannot harm these tiny creatures of Allah. Their story brings out good lesson in the preparation and dignified treatment accorded these fellow inhabitants of our universe that future generations should be privileged to enjoy these magnificent birds in their natural habitats and glory.
Significance:
The Islamabad Zoo was located at the base of Margalla hills and was historically cultural attraction for people, as it was the zoo of capital city of Pakistan. Since 1978, it ceased not only to provide entertainment to people in their leisure time; it epitomized a place of community, learning and family togetherness. Until the 1970’s the zoo was a communal space, where individuals of different ethnic background are visiting to watch animals and be aware of nature. It was instrumental in establishing the concern of young and mature generations with exotic and native animals as an initial touch with such species. School excursions and family outings were not strange sights all over Islamabad; the zoo became part of the society’s culture.
It was also a place of celebrating local peculiarities and spirit relying on the traditions of celebrating days and times of the year, where families visited and enjoyed picnicking and having lively outdoor activities surrounded by nature’s splendor. They could build here such hotels with flora and fauna of Margalla Hills National Park closer to the city, which reflected the nature of Islamabad. Aside from curriculum-enforced recreational provision, through the lens of the signage, Islamabad Zoo played the vital role of educating the population about the necessity of the protection of Pakistan’s natural heritage even if the physical implementation of these messages was lacking.
However, due to advancement in information, education, concern and advocacy regarding animal rights , the management of the zoo was accused of neglecting the welfare of animals in their Centre . The shutdown of the zoo in 2020 acted as a break from previous norms to new lessons that classed the zoo as a place that mistreats animals. As such while the entity that was the professional zoo is now gone, the iconography of the zoo remains a testament to the cultural history and the developing awareness of the interaction between man and civilization and the animal kingdom in Pakistan. Future proposals to develop the site as a conservation and education center should uphold this legacy in an effort to give future generations a shot at experiencing the same site viewed by such literati as a humane business that practices sustainable architecture.