Established in 1872, Lahore Zoo is one of the oldest in the world. It Started as a small variety that was donated by Lal Mahundra Ram. Today the Zoo houses about 1381 Animals of 136 species.
Lahore Zoo لاہور چڑیا گھر in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, established in 1872, one of the largest zoos in South Asia. It is currently managed by the Wildlife and Parks department of the Government of Pakistan. Today the zoo houses a collection of about 1380 animals of 136 species. Lahore Zoo was the host of the fifth annual conference of SAZARC in 2004. The stated mission of the zoo is:
To carry out ex-situ conservation of species and to actively contribute to Pakistan’s International commitment in terms of the Convention on Biological Diversity in addition to provide excellent educational and recreational facilities.
Lahore Zoo is thought to be the third or fourth oldest zoo in the world.Vienna Zoo of Austria, established in 1752 as a menagerie, was opened to public as a zoo in 1779. London Zoo of England, established in 1828, was opened to public in 1847. The Alipore Zooof India, established sometime in the early 19th century, was opened to public as a zoo in 1876.
Animal exhibits
- Fancy Aviaryis as old as the zoo itself as it started as an aviary in 1872. The section houses a number of bird species, most of which are parrots, fowls, doves and pigeonsand birds of prey. Other species housed are European rabbits, Indian crested porcupines, spur-thighed tortoises, Indian wolves, a wild boar and a jungle cat.
- Tiger Housewas constructed in 1872 for a few hundred rupees and renovated in 1987 at a cost of about 5.1 million rupees. It has seven rooms and two moats which currently house Bengal tigers and lions. A bear pit exhibits a pair and two cubs of Asian black bears. Other animals include a pair of leopards and a pair of cougars.
- Elephant Housewas constructed in 1972 at a cost of about 500,000 rupees. It has three rooms and three moats. It houses three endangered species endemic to Africa: ahippo (named ‘Rani’), two white rhinoceros and a female African bush elephant (named ‘Suzi’). Suzi was brought to the zoo in 1972 on its 100th anniversary.
- Giraffe Houseis home to a variable number of plains zebras and dromedary camels, a pair of giraffes (named ‘Twinkle’ and ‘Sunny’), two Bactrian camels and a llama. It also exhibits three species of flightless birds or ratites: emu, ostrich and southern cassowary.
- Deer Housecontains more mammals than any other house in the zoo, including axis deer (chital), blue bull (nilgai), fallow deer, Indian gazelle (chinkara), red deer, sika deer, the near-threatened species of blackbuck and mouflon as well as threatened species of hog deer, sambar and urial. It also houses red-necked wallabies.
- Monkey Housegained popularity when a pair of chimpanzees were introduced in 1994 and gave birth to triplets. As of June 2010, only three chimpanzees remain. Other animals in the section include black-footed gray langurs, olive baboons, capuchin monkeys, rhesus monkeys and vervet monkeys.
- Crocodile Pondsare one of the more popular exhibits of the zoo. One pond houses two female gharials (locally called ‘gavial’). Another large pond houses a variety of aquatic birds including great white pelicans, greater flamingos, mute swans and black swans. Another area is home to a European otter.
- Snake Houseis the serpentarium of the Lahore Zoo. It was closed in June 2007 when about 20 snakes died because of suffocation.[5] After being renovated, it was reopened on April 30, 2010.The exhibit houses species including Indian cobras, Indian phythons, Indian sand boas and Russell’s vipers.