Introduction:
Murree Zoo also known as the wildlife park is found in Murree – a hilly station in Pakistan and is comparatively small as compared to large commercial zoos, however it provide the best combination both of natural scenery and fauna. Located on the foothills of the magnificent Margalla hills the zoo provides a calm environment far away from the noise and pollution. Murree Zoo is one of the few zoos of the mid-twentieth this area, which is located in the natural and calm environment for the local and foreign visitors the different animals are kept.
Zoo has the endangered animals from the local area like leopards, bears, monkeys and peacocks, deer and various species of birds along with the species from other continents. These animals are kept in small more or less complicated structures that mimic their habitats. Thus, though smaller in size as compared to some of the leading wildlife parks of Pakistan, due to its size, the zoo enjoys the reputation of a family park.
Murree Zoo has also been beneficiary in the sense that people receive information about the wild animals and their conservation. It has its niche market , especially the families that visit the place just to amuse the animals, and at the same time take cool air from the mountain. Being relatively small and significantly less filled with visitors than zoos in, for instance, Lahore or Karachi, the zoo makes for a desirable place to visit for those, who are eager to spend time surrounded by animals but do not prefer noisy and overcrowded places.
Although this center has experienced some difficulties in terms of funding and infrastructure the visit of Murree Zoo can be still regarded as important for the further development of local wildlife education. Having beautiful surrounding and different types of animals the zoo is still serving the purpose and popular among the tourists hence plays a role in Murree tourism.
History Murree zoo:
The history of the Murree Zoo is not too eventful but it certainly is extremely colorful – a fact that could be viewed as its accomplishments since the Murree region does tend to care about the creatures it hosts and educating the public as well. It was founded in early 1980s a small zoo has been designed as a wildlife park in Pakistan the hill station of Murree nestled in the Margalla hills of northern Pakistan. Murree is famous for its natural beauty and cool climate and the construction of a popular tourist destination like zoo that had a potential to educate commoners about wildlife as well as offer recreational facilities was in its truest sense the best idea in the circumstances.
At first, the idea was to establish a few local species of entities namely monkeys, dears and bears, as a point of interest for tourism or for local families to be able to see some wild animals. Later on the zoo developed and it housed more and other kinds of species like birds such as the peacocks, pheasants as well as leopards and other small cats and other small animals. Being comparatively smaller in comparison to other zoos, the charm of this zoo increased because of its location in the serene surroundings of the hill region giving people an opportunity to come into a natural contact with the animals.
Since its establishment, the Murree Zoo also suffered similar problems including financial constraints, physical structures, and the animal. There have been some attempts in extending the physical structure of this zoo over the years, but it has not been very complex as the other zoos in Pakistan. Concerning the educational function of the zoo, the fact that the point has remained relevant regarding the introduction of a foreign population to the principles of wildlife conservation and the protection of aboriginal animals.
A number of factors underscore the zoos history of educating individuals and contribute to the task of the conservation of wild life within the backdrop of Murree’s beautiful natural environment.
overview Murree zoo:
The Murree Zoo is a mini zoo and wildlife park that sits in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Murree city of Pakistan. Sitting in the fresh green region of the Margalla Hills, the zoo offers the ambience of a quiet and picturesque place for the local and foreign visitors. Founded during the early 1980s, the zoo has provided both recreational and education purpose for the people. It enables tourists a wonderful chance to visit natural setting and watch different animals and birds with no common sight of thousands of people observed in most city zoos.
The zoo contains both local and foreign species of animals such as leopards, monkeys, bears, and deer and birds such as peacocks, pheasants and parrots. A number of animals that are exhibited in the zoo are endogenous, making it possible for people to gain information on the wild life of northern hill Pakistan. Education in regard to Conservation and Protection of endangered Species are also responsibilities of any zoo. Currently the enclosures are fairly basic in design to resemble that of the inhabitants natural environment, however the zoo has experienced some difficulties in relation to structural issues and finances in the past.
Though small, Murree zoo is one place that is a preferred choice of families especially tourists looking forward for some natural beauty of Murree. Due to the absence of many annoying noises present in most regions of busy cities the site is popular among tourists in search of a place to relax. Despite occupying less area in comparison to some of the other wildlife parks of Pakistan, this zoo carries out the vital function of educating people about environment. The attractiveness of the zoo mainly consists of its rustic appeal and giving people an engaging and informative dose of wildlife, and at that right in the middle of nature up in Murree.
Animals in Murree zoo:
Murree Zoo is located in the hills of Murree city and the zoo has a number of animals, both endemic in the continent and also from across the world. Although a zoo may not have many animals, visitors are able to learn about the animals Quarter 3 Page 3 of the Zoos located at Zoological Gardens. Leopards are the most famous residents of the zoo, and the animals are considered one of the main attractions. Such beautiful big cats have rightly placed in the cages styled according with their habitat so the spectators can watch how really gracefully these cats are. Other fauna exhibited at the zoo is the bears and among them there is the Himalayan black bear which is from the region. Such animals are quite popular with kids and other guests to help them understand the typical activities of these creatures.
Besides these big cats and other carnivores, other small animals in the zoo include monkeys, deer and rabbits. There are l offers monkeys that are usually playing and moving around such that the visitors find their movement appealing. The zoo also houses birds and some of the ones that are being kept include; peacocks, pheasants, parrots and among others. Out of them, the peacocks are one of the best-loved attractions, as everyone likes birds with splendid bright plumage.
Although the zoo contains very few species of animals, the animals that are in the zoo give some information about the species of the region. The Murree Zoo can give tourists the closest natural view of animals in natural surrounding located in front of the Margalla Hills. Their concentration on remoteness and indigenous wildlife together with a few extra Numbers of species, is what makes it popular among wildlife enthusiasts, families and tourists who want to get a glimpse of the wildlife in Northern Pakistan.
lion in Murree zoo:
The Murree Zoo mainly contains native and small animals and while the lions were held at this place earlier. Lions were disclosed to zoological establishment of Odessa to become one of the main attractions and to exhibit the magnificent predator. Though, lions are also not a permanent inmates of Murree zoo as the physical conditions or the availability of space and other amenities of this zoo do not allow them to confine large inmates for a long-continent.
When lions have been in the zoo’s list of animals, then it has used them as its pride owing to their nobility. The spectators are captivated by their power and majesty; therefore such colossal cats attract the attention of the visitor. Tigers, and other members of the Felidae family like leopards were introduced for the purpose of presenting a number of different species of interest and while their enclosures were significantly smaller than the ones required for these large predators they existed. In the past, the zoo has had difficulties concerning the well-being of its large animals such as the lions because of the space constraint and the requirement of much larger one.
The authorities of the zoo have sometimes encountered criticisms from animal rights organizations with special reference to the condition of the lions including their enclosures. Over the course of the years that the zoo has been updated and improved across its structures, stones, lions, and other large animals and have been moved to other facilities that could provide better enclosures, better for them.
Still, the lions in Murree Zoo have also been an attraction for visitors providing a chance to see mighty animals which usually live in wild habitats on a quiet hill station. The zoo remains up to the challenge of offering information about wildlife conservation even today; however, its main focus is on species that can be maintained in the limited area.
cats Murree zoo:
Murree Zoo has different types of animals and let us. look at the several categories of cats in Murree Zoo; there are small wildcats and big cats such as leopards. Here, visitors can meet the representatives of those species, get answers to questions regarding their activity, habitat, and the need to protect large cats in the wild.
Of all the feline inhabitants of the zoo, the leopard is one of the most favorite and appreciated animals. Tigers are magnificent, fast, strong, and have spots, which make leopards a very popular attraction at zoos. These big cats are well provided for in natural like cages to display their flu and movements; all this at the zoo. Leopard being independent animals are usually involved in relatively aggressive movements along their compound or resting in their cages as observed.
The zoo also contains other Lunivores, like wildcats and lynx, which are less active in the daytime than other specimens of big cats. Such smaller cats are within the scope of the zoo because its primary goal is the conservancy of natural habitat and raising public awareness of the species in the area. Park goers are able to distinguish the variation between large cats such as leopards and other types of smaller cats in this category of the park to exhibit some of how the big cats differ in their environments and daily lives.
Although the zoo is not extensive and the number of feline species is limited, their exhibit makes an indispensable contribution to the representation of the region’s natural heritage. Tourists can have some really close looks at some of the most magnificent and elusive creatures of the wilds at Murree Zoo irrespective of their size.
snakes Murree zoo:
The Murree Zoo in Pakistan had different species of snakes as its reptile collection and being an informed institution it gives people an exposure to these species under a controlled condition. Considering that the zoo offers a range of larger mammals and bird species, the reptiles part –snakes in particular –provides an extra interesting and informative appeal to the visitors concerned with the variety and species of wildlife.
Among those snakes that are bred in the zoo some of those are native in region like Indian Cobra and Russell’s Viper, both are venomous snakes seen in the wild in Pakistan. Such snakes are used in reptile sections of the zoo enclosures are created to mimic their natural habitats for the snake and yet be safe for the visitor. Stuff about these snakes, their contribution to ecosystems in their area, for instance, as natural pest controllers for rodents and as maintainers of ecosystem balance for zoo visitors can be taught.
Not only venomous but also non- venomous snakes are also within the premises including the Rat Snake a non- venomous snake but makes for a very interesting form of a snake as does the python. Abilities of these species are essential in the provision of information to the public where misconceptions about snakes and snake phobia are provided for through aggressive campaigns on the same potentiated through display of the ecological value of snakes.
There are couple of snakes kept at the Murree Zoo where one kind learns about these animals most of the time in news as dangerous animals. For the same reason, the zoo plays an important role of acquaintencing children, as well as other visitors, with conservation and the need to protect species as rare as the Giant Otter, even if it cannot be easily seen. Despite the relatively small dimensions of the territory that is to become a zoo, the inhabitants of which are live snakes, adds some spice to the walk through.
parrot murree zoo:
The Murree Zoo, in Pakistan also hosts birds some of which are parrots which have many colorful birds some of which the visitors are able to play with. These intelligent birds that include the psittacula and eccopsis karr are famous for mimicking several sounds are among the major attractions to zoo. Some of the avian species found in the zoo include the Indian Ring-necked Parakeet, Alexandrine Parakeet and the Rose-ringed Parakeet all of which are endemic to the area. Another subfamily of parrots is usually found feasting on fruits or just sitting on trees or are brought close to tourists to interact with.
Murree Zoo’s parrots are placed in very large cages that resemble their nest so the parrots can fly and interact safely unto one another, and it is well furnished to provide them adequate shelter. People can watch these birds go about their business since parrots are very social creatures and can be seen to be very close to other parrots. Parrots are also kept in the zoo for children and they come in many colours; green, red and yellow.
Besides being interesting for the visitors, the parrots in the zoo are purposeful, for they have to educate people. They assist in sensitising positive change of status of bird species; most of which are at risk in their natural environment due to loss of habitats, poaching and trading of bird species for pets, and the effects of climate change. Through this activity, the zoo offers learning experiences that help the public understand the behavior, diet, and conservation of parrots lost in the wild.
It is clear that parrots make an additional attractive to the collection of the Murree Zoo, attracting birds’ lovers and families. It is also useful for the general objectives of the zoo – to raise awareness of the public about endangered species and teach them how our planet is inhabited by various species of animals in a natural.
Deer in Murree zoo:
The Murree Zoo contains many species of native animals and one of the beautiful and calm animals of this zoo is deer. These elegant and polite animals are some of the primary attractions at this zoo because they allow people to witness their actions and the appearance of the animals. The zoo boasts of several types of Deers commonly the Chital deer also known as the spotted deer and the Muntjac deer, which most commonly known as the barking deer. These species specially prevail in the regions of; forests and grasslands of northern Pakistan, where the zoo is situated in the hill station of Murree.
Deer at the Murree zoo are annexed with large spaces that are conditioned to their natural habitat which is a forested area. These deer are usually cool and free ranging; maybe this is why visitors can notice them feeding on the ground or when they are roaming about majestically in the big expansities. Among them the Chital deer are also known to bear the spotted coat and therefore easily recognizable. It’s easy to define them as perfect residents for the zoo since they do not cause any harm, and their quiet disposition makes them particularly appealing for families with children.
The other area where the zoo provides information on wildlife is through the deer that are also kept in the same enclosure. As being an herbivore, deer contribute to balance of ecosystems by keeping in check plant produce and they are also food for predators in the wild. Through these animals, the zoo educates people as to the use of these animals in the ecosystem and the need to protect their habitats.
Although Murree Zoo is not a large wildlife park, it provides a serene atmosphere to the visitors and give them a lovely chance to watch these wonderful animals overcoming their natural habitat. Deer at this zoo also contribute to the general serene ecosystem of the place, which is a bonus for anybody interested in nature and animals.