LAHORE: The management of the Lahore Safari Zoo has decided to outsource its different facilities through the process of pre-bidding after recent renovation and upgrade of the safari park.

The facilities to be outsourced include Tiger Safari, Jungle Safari and electric vehicles that take the visitors to different areas of the safari. E-ticketing will also be outsourced to a private firm after fulfilling all formalities.

The management claims that a new e-ticketing system has been set up with all the latest IT equipment. It says the outsourcing will not only increase the revenue of safari park by five to six times but would also resolve the human resource issues. The private firm and contractors will not be able to increase tickets rates as they would be decided by the department.

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The management claims that besides boosting the review, the outsourcing would make the wildlife staff focus on their duties with the arrival of new animals like elephants.

The Lahore Zoo Safari claims to offer facilities of international standard to its visitors as the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department has renovated and upgraded the safari park with to providing maximum to citizens, keeping in view IT-based technologies.

It claims to offer new facilities after renovation and upgrade

Safari zoo offers with animals where visitors see a range of 416 animals from around the country and the world, including lions, giraffes, monkeys, blackbucks and coral fishes. It has a spacious parking where more than 600 vehicles can be parked at a time while an extra parking area has also been arranged outside safari if the number of visitors escalates during holidays.

Big screens have been installed, showing animal videos for before entry to the main zoo. An information center has also been established to give information to the visitors. A general area has also been specified for Fun Land, cafeteria, swings for children, slides and camel rides. Earlier, these facilities were missing.

Electric vehicles take the visitors to Salt Range, Pakistan Deer Safari, African Deer Safari, Desert Safari and aquarium. An EV, carrying visitors, passes through these areas and visitors closely observe the animals in their natural habitat.

The lion safari area has also been upgraded and made more secure for the visitors. The visitors are seated in a cage vehicle, fully secured from all sides by an iron cage and taken inside the area of lion safari where lions roaming freely.

The administration of safari zoo, under the supervision of Punjab Wildlife DG Muddassir Riaz Malik, has taken an initiative, Night Lion Safari, for the first time in Pakistan for seeing the nighttime habits of lions. This has become a new attraction for the citizens who want to experience nighttime lion safari from 8pm to 10pm.

The artificial lake has also been upgraded in safari zoo, taking visitors to high place hut through a wooden bridge over the water. This view enchants the visitors and gives them natural view.

A masque, water filtration plant, electric water coolers and public toilets have also been upgraded as per modern infrastructure.

Similarly, a hospital for sick animals has been set up inside the safari park where vets have been deputed.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2024