ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday revealed plans for building Pakistan’s first world-class wildlife safari park in Islamabad.
The authority has chosen Malpur Forestry Park, near Bara Kahu and Murree Road, as the proposed site. CDA will develop the project on nearly 350 acres to promote wildlife conservation, eco-tourism, and family recreation in the federal capital.
“We are going to preserve the existing forest and its ecosystem while developing the safari park,” officials told the media. “Construction will have no impact on the biodiversity of the area.”
CDA had already completed the feasibility study and conceptual design. Now the project will be moved to the tendering stage before the construction work begins.
As per the master plan, there will be around 3,605 animals housed at the safari park. The authority will segment these areas into 10 safari and wildlife sanctuary zones, which will be quite similar to their natural habitats.
The biggest zone will have 1,000 kanals of area dedicated to an ungulate safari. Visitors will experience exciting guided safari tours, amazing wildlife viewing areas, thrilling nature trails, and an interesting glass soft-wheel train ride.
Animals Included in Safari Zoo
CDA will also build a 180-kanal big cat zone – lions, tigers, bears, hyenas, and African wild dogs will each have their own enclosure. Then there’s the 340-kanal wildlife sanctuary where you’ll find crocs, rhinos, elephants, and hippos.
To help take care of the animals, the authority will build a 100-kanal ‘Wildlife Care Complex’. This will house an international-class vet hospital, treatment centre, quarantine block, and even a separate ‘Safari Park Veterinary Clinic.’
Beyond that, there are some neat visitor attractions planned too. CDA wants to create a ‘Safari Pavilion’ for ticketing and visitor services, a 400-kanal ‘Safari Village’ with lodgings, restaurants, and recreation zones, and a 50-kanal ‘Safari Food Street’ right off Murree Road featuring theme restaurants and cafés.
