Lohi Bher Wildlife Park
{{Short description|Wildlife Park In Rawalpindi}}
{{Infobox protected area|name=Lohi Bher Wildlife Park|coordinates={{coord|33.57743443924051|73.12723427100079|display=it}}|relief=y|map=Pakistan|location=Pakistan|nearest_city=Rawalpindi|established=1992|area={{convert|687|acres|ha}}|governing_body=Punjab Forest, Fisheries & Wildlife Department}}
Lohi Bher Wildlife Park is a zoo located near Lohi Bher in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.{{Cite web |last=Bhatti |first=Haseeb |date=2015-05-21 |title=Lone lion at Rawalpindi's Lohi Bher park dies |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1183331 |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Dawn |language=en}} Established in 1992, the area encompasses 687 acres.{{Cite web |last=Abbasi |first=Obaid |date=2011-06-18 |title=Lohi Bher Wildlife Park: 687 acres of near lifelessness |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/191932/lohi-bher-wildlife-park-687-acres-of-near-lifelessness |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} It was established and is administered by the Forest, Fisheries & Wildlife Department of the Government of Punjab.{{Cite web |title=Zoos and Safari {{!}} Forest, Wildlife & Fishries Department |url=https://fwf.punjab.gov.pk/Zoos |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=fwf.punjab.gov.pk}}
History
The plan to set up a park in the area was formed in 1988. At the time of its opening in 1992, it spanned an area of 1,050 acres. In the years since, the forest area has continued to decrease due to being reassigned for real estate development, while encroachments have also caused several acres to be occupied.{{Cite web |last=Mirza |first=Jamil |date=2017-07-16 |title=Lohi Bher Safari Park in a shambles |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1459528/lohi-bher-safari-park-shambles |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}
In 2008, the government decided to renovate the park and introduce new animals into it to bring the park up to international safari standards. A budget amounting to Rs. 311 million was allocated for this purpose. Developments were to include purchase of an additional 100 acres of land to expand the park, and the construction of a pheasant reserve and two artificial lakes.
Around the late 2000s and 2010s, the park used to see 400 to 500 visitors on weekends.{{Cite web |last=Abbasi |first=Kashif |date=2014-02-18 |title=Road less travelled: Sans walkways, Lohi Bher park loses its charm |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/673441/road-less-travelled-sans-walkways-lohi-bher-park-loses-its-charm |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}
In July 2019, another plan to restore the park was made by the administration, as it had undergone a state of disrepair owing to negligence.{{Cite web |last=Sherazi |first=Qaiser |date=2019-07-10 |title=Plan to renovate Lohi Bher Park |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2009879/plan-renovate-lohi-bher-park |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20190202185435/http://www.wildlifeofpakistan.com/ZoosandBreedingCentersofPakistan/zoosandbreedingcentersofPakistan.htm Wildlife Parks in Pakistan]
{{Zoos of Pakistan}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Wildlife parks in Pakistan
{{Pakistan-stub}}
{{Zoo-stub}}