The expansion and development of Marghazar Zoo costing Rs 1.4 billion will be completed in three years. The project will be started in the first week of June 2008. This was announced at a public hearing, organised by the Pakistan Environmental Agency (Pak-EPA) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) here on Tuesday.
Pak-EPA Director-General Asif Shuja and CDA Zoo Director Raja Javed, chaired the hearing, which was attended by a large number of environmentalists, educationists, representatives of various NGOs, students, and general public.
Talking to Business Recorder, the Pak-EPA officials said that the residents of the federal capital have shown their support for the project but on the condition if the developmental work would not affect the environment and create health hazards.
Officials said that in the expansion plan of the zoo, from existing 19 acres of land to 75 acres, the Authority has declared 14 acres of land close to Margalla Hills as "Buffer Zone". These 14 acres land would be fenced, but no unnatural development would be executed in the zone, they added.
"Already existing animals like monkeys and different birds will live in the zone as they are already living there", they said. The zoo administration would provide food to the animals in the buffer zone but it would be out of the boundaries of the zoo area, they added.
The parking facility would be provided for the visitor accommodating around 500 vehicles at a time. They also said that the design of the up-gradation plan was prepared by two South African firms, the Unicorn and the V&L, and both the firms would also supervise the construction work.
He said the zoo would be equipped with facilities of research and education for students, including guides to visit the zoo. The existing 56 species of different animals and birds would be increased to 218, including local, regional, African and European ones. The animals' enclosure would be larger than the set standard of World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Waza). "Most of the animals would not be caged", they added.
CDA Zoo Director Raja Javed assured the participants that many of their concerns and suggestions had already been considered by the civic agency and the design of the zoo would be prepared while considering all of them.
He said the solid waste would be managed in the Authority's already existing Landfill Area on Kurri Road, whereas the animals' waste will be utilised as fertilisers. However, water of wetland and other reservoirs would be recycled and used in the lawns of the zoo, he added.