KARACHI: City Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Wednesday announced to give Zoological Garden the status of a family zoo soon for which the Council of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has already passed a resolution.

The mayor also cut a cake in connection with the 150-year celebrations of the zoo and inaugurated many projects, including Sabzazar after rehabilitation, a newly-constructed cage for white lion and renovated office of zoo directorate and public announcement system.

Talking to reporters after the opening, he said that due to the Covid-19 pandemic and closure of zoo, the KMC availed the opportunity to carry out uplift works there. “The KMC has provided all required facilities at the zoo which would depict a more beautiful view in coming days,” he added.

He said 40 per cent area of the zoo was fixed for animals where there were 900 different animals and birds while 60pc area was earmarked for ponds, a canteen, Mughal garden and a park.

He said that around 300,000 people visited the zoo annually as the KMC kept trying to expand facilities for visitors. The pond was also rehabilitated.

Mr Akhtar said that cages of animals, walls and other places were painted and the staffers were also provided uniforms. A veterinary hospital was also established to provide treatment to the ailing animals, he said.

“Machli Ghar (aquarium) has also been renovated while the KMC is also making expenditures for ensuring provision of basic food and medicines to animals despite having limited resources,” he added.

In reply to a question, the mayor said the KMC would issue tender once again for recreational activities at Aladdin Park. He said that he did not see local bodies elections soon in the current circumstances, adding that the administrator could be posted after the tenure of the incumbent local governments.

Talking about the history of Karachi Zoo, the mayor said that there was a factory of East India Company on its land in 1833 and the British government had built accommodation area there for its forces in 1940. Many prominent personalities, including Mir Talpur of Hyderabad, Prince of Khairpur Mirs Sindh as well as East India Company supported the establishment of Zoological Garden.

Akhtar said that during the visit of Mahatma Gandhi in 1913, the Council of Karachi Municipality through a resolution named the Zoo after Mahatma Gandhi. “A small Machli Ghar was established in 1952 which is still there and the work for its uplift would begin soon. In 1955, the council renamed it as Karachi Zoological Garden and fixed entry tickets. Many uplift works were carried out during 1960s and 1970s, including establishment of Mughal Garden. In 1992, the prince and princess of Japan inaugurated the Natural History Museum here and the Reptile House was also established in the same year,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2020