On March 6th, Mr Ameer Ali Ahmad- Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA), and Ms Rina Saeed- Chairperson Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), visited the closed Islamabad zoo to analyze the possibility of a virtual zoo at the place.

Well there’s good news, it’s decided that two thirds of the land shall be used for a digital zoo where Robotic animal models, animated 3D presentations, and a virtual show shall be hosted every evening. 

With this vision, not only does CDA and IWMB create a wildlife- friendly environment across Pakistan, but also inspire the use of virtual technology in public education and entertainment applications.

There are also plans of displaying documentaries and high-tech films covering the wild-life domain for public education and entertainment.

A 360-degree virtual world of animals, now how interesting is this!

Ms Rina Saeed took to twitter and shared her thoughts on the idea of the VR zoo saying that technology could be used to educate and inspire the public on preserving the wild-life.

 Virtual Reality and its scope in Pakistan

Virtual Reality is an artificial environment that mimics the physical world using digital objects and accessed through a headset. In advance applications, VR uses 3D models to further enhance the virtual world. Pakistan is long trying to advance in VR technology specifically for commercial purposes such as in gaming and other public entertainment areas.

Chief Executive Officer of Kiwi Creations, Umair Abdul Wahab is one of the technologist in the area who’s team is working in VR and visions VR as a maturing industry in Pakistan with more innovative applications of VR coming recently. 

Abdul Wahab considers VR to have huge potential in almost every field including public entertainment given its capability of creating objects that are not physically accessible.

History of Zoo

Also known as Marghazar Zoo– the Islamabad zoo was constructed in 1978 and became a huge tourist point since then attracting a total of one million visitors every year. 

Unfortunately, the old zoo was closed in December 2020 when Islamabad High Court- IHC issued a notice against the zoo’s management, the Capital Development Authority, for its mistreatment of animals. The capital court then handed over the administration of the zoo to Islamabad Wildlife Management Board- IWMB.

Before closing the zoo, IHC ordered the animals to be transferred to sanctuaries where they could be treated and offered a safe living environment, including Kavaan, the 32-year old elephant who now lives in his homeland Cambodia.

The construction of the newly planned site shall commence within six weeks after the news has surfaced with main focus on public education and awareness while making sure that no animals within the zoo shall be made captive with chains and bars.