Islamabad Zoo

Islamabad Zoo also known as Marghazar Zoo is located in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The zoo was an 82-acre zoo that was opened in 1978 and was under the administration of the Capital Development Authority of Pakistan. The zoo was home to a variety of animals and attracted approximately 1 million visitors annually.

However, the zoo was closed in December 2020 due to concerns about the mistreatment of animals. In May 2020, the Islamabad High Court ruled to transfer the management of the park and its non-human species to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board. All animals were ordered to be transferred to shelters, and the board took administrative control in June 2021. A renovation of the zoo as a conservation center is currently being planned.

The zoo had faced several controversies, including the case of Kaavan, a 32-year-old Asian elephant who turned mentally ill due to being chained for two decades. This sparked international attention and led to a social media campaign with the hashtag #SaveKaavan. Eventually, Kaavan was sent to a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia in December 2020. Despite its closure, the zoo remains a significant part of Islamabad’s history and its transformation into a conservation center is eagerly anticipated.