BAHAWALPUR ZOO

HISTORY OF BAHAWALPUR ZOO

Bahawalpur zoo was set up in 1942 by the former Aamir of Bahawalpur, Sir Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi.^[5] It was then named "Sher Bagh" (meaning Lion Garden).^[6] In 1955, the administration of the zoo was transferred to the Department of Agriculture. From 1977 to 1982, the zoo remained under the control of the Department of the Live Stock Punjab.^[1]

Date opened 1942[1]
Location Bahawalpur,
Punjab, Pakistan
Coordinates 29.402764N 71.681601E Coordinates: 29.402764°N 71.681601°E
Land area 25 acres (10 ha)[1]
Number of animals 870[2]
Birds: >600[3]
Mammals: >180[3]

Exhibits

The exhibits are a mix between old style cages and newer moated enclosures. One older exhibit houses a pair of domestic cats, jackals, and an Indian civet cat. Crocodiles are kept in a large outdoor enclosure. lions, tigers, and hyenas are housed in more modern moated enclosures. A large pond in the zoo is home to pelicans, cranes, and geese. Several peafowl are also on exhibit. Blackbuck, hog deer, nilgai, European red deer, chinkara, and European mouflon are all housed in large paddocks.[7]

The zoo also includes a museum with stuffed animals, including what is claimed to be the last lion shot in the Punjab.[7]

Conservation

This zoo has bred various threatened species of Asian black bear, Bengal tiger, blackbuck, hog deer, and lion. Others like chinkara (Indian gazelle), chital (spotted deer), and nilgai (blue bull) are also breeding successfully in the zoo.[5]