New tigers bring more attraction at Karachi Zoo

Jumbo Editorial Team

The Karachi Zoo, which is also known as the Karachi Zoological Garden, is located on Nishter Road and Sir Aga Khan III Road in Karachi and it is the oldest zoo in the country after the Lahore Zoo.

The administration of the Karachi Zoo was recently handed over of a pair each of white tiger and Bengal tiger adding to the attraction for the people who reach here from even the farthest corners of the metropolis. 

There were more people in attendance than usual as animal lovers from other cities of the country also thronged the zoo after they got the news of arrival of white tigers through the print and electronic media. 

The KMC Administrator, Mohammad Hussain Syed, announced on the occasion that the induction of new animals and birds to Karachi Zoo and Safari Park will continue and soon more zebra, rhino, giraffe and hippopotamus would arrive in these facilities.

The Director General Technical Services Altaf G. Memon, Senior Director Culture, Sports and Recreation Mohammad Rehan Khan, Director Zoo Dr. Muhammad Kazim and citizens in good numbers were also present on this occasion. 

The people, particularly kids, expressed pleasure on seeing the newly arrived tigers through an acrylic glass enclosure and just in front of them. 

The KMC Administrator described it as a refreshing addition to the zoo announced to hold a contest for naming the white tigers. 

He invited children below the age of 10 years to suggest the most beautiful name for the pair and win Rs 10,000. He also requested the civil society to join hands with KMC in the betterment and development of Karachi Zoo into a modern zoo. 

He further asked them to form a management committee comprising of electronic media representatives, journalists and distinguished citizens so that the feeding to captives and the facilities at zoo could be monitored.

 

Mohammad Hussain Syed observed that the animals and birds needs natural environment with well quality feed continuously. 

He announced the veterinary hospital at the zoo would soon be equipped with the latest equipments.  

The KMC’s Senior Director Culture, Sports and Recreation, Rehan Khan, while giving a briefing on this occasion said the white tigers were imported from South Africa which is the country of origin of this species. Karachi Zoo is the first zoo of the country where a pair of white tiger was inducted. 

Historically the Karachi Zoo was established in 1878 and it was then known as 'Mahatma Gandhi Garden.’ After the creation of Pakistan in 1947 the name was changed to 'Karachi Zoological Gardens' and it has been called 'Karachi Zoo' in short. In 1861, the zoo was transferred to municipality by the government. In 1878, the municipality placed the zoo under a trust to be developed out of public subscription. Later, the zoo was once again opened to public in 1881.