One giraffe died and another was injured while being transported from Karachi to Lahore for the city’s zoos, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
According to the Safari Zoo administration, a total of 12 giraffes were recently imported from South Africa for Lahore Safari Park and Lahore Zoo. The animals were brought to Lahore by air, after which they were shifted to the Safari Park.
Officials said the giraffes will be kept in quarantine for a period of 15 days to one month, during which their health will be monitored before being released into their designated enclosures. Of the 12 animals, nine have been reserved for the Safari Park and three for Lahore Zoo.
The Punjab government had allocated Rs. 135 million for the project. This is the second such initiative in recent years; in 2018, three giraffes were also imported from South Africa for Lahore Zoo.
The Wildlife Department further stated that it is pursuing plans to acquire other large animals, including elephants, for the Safari Park.