A large number of people who visited Maraghzar Zoo during the Eid holidays were disappointed to see that the facility lacked a number of exotic animals such as lion, leopard and crocodile etc.
Hundreds of those who had come to the national capital to celebrate Eid too were found complaining about the maladministration at the recreational facility.
Talking to Pakistan Today, they said the administration had kept birds in the enclosures meant for leopard and crocodile and a brown bear in a place tagged for lion. Lack of animals, which are considered feature attraction at any zoo, compelled families with children to turn to kiosks where the little ones enjoyed swings and other sports.
It may be mentioned that the Capital Development Authority has illegally allowed the construction of a joy land within the zoo premises. The visitors criticised the CDA and demanded the government should ensure provision of more exotic animals at the zoo.
They said they had come to see animals such as lion and leopard but the zoo lacked those species.
They said it was the responsibility of relevant authorities to develop the zoo on modern lines.
A CDA source told Pakistan Today that the authority had started the up-gradation of Marghaz Zoo in 2008 and planned to complete it by 2011 but the project was still in limbo because of the apathy of the high-ups. He said the animals were also suffering due to the delay in completion of the work.
He said the CDA had allocated Rs 50 million for Marghazar Zoo up-gradation project in the financial year 2011-2012 and that the total cost of the project was Rs 1407.8 million. He said during the past few years a number of animals and birds died due to poor arrangements. “The zoo had only one lion and one leopard but they too died,” he added. He said the zoo lacked proper enclosures for big cats and the cabins, cages and huts built for animals were not up to prescribed standards.
He said according to a master plan for Marghazar Zoo approved in 2007, the facility was expanded from 25 acres to 80 acres. “It was also decided then that around 200 species of various animals would be housed in the zoo and that the animal would be provided habitat where they could be comfortable,” he said, adding that the project was nowhere near completion.
