Pakistan’s Zoo-Turned-Rescue is Saving a Baby Tiger

Hidden behind the overgrown foliage and abandoned ticket booths of Marghazar Zoo lies a sanctuary of hope and rehabilitation: the Margalla Wildlife Rescue Centre. Once a symbol of neglect and animal mistreatment, this place has transformed into a place of care for Pakistan‘s wildlife.

Following the closure of Marghazar Zoo in 2020 amidst outcry over animal welfare issues, the Islamabad High Court entrusted the premises to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB). Charged with preserving Islamabad’s wildlife and the Margalla Hills National Park, the IWMB saw an opportunity to repurpose the abandoned zoo into a rehabilitation center for rescued animals.

Since its inception, the Margalla Wildlife Rescue Centre has been a lifeline for hundreds of animals. Rescued from poachers, traffickers, and exploitative conditions, these creatures find solace and healing within its walls. From rhesus monkeys to Bengal tigers like Baboo, the center’s dedicated staff and volunteers work tirelessly to nurse them back to health.

Baboo’s journey from a critically ill cub to a thriving tiger symbolizes the center’s commitment to its residents’ well-being. Through care and medical attention, Baboo not only survived but flourished. His eventual relocation to a sanctuary in South Africa marks a triumph of international cooperation and compassion.

However, the center’s mission faces numerous challenges. Operating on limited funds and reliant on donations, the Margalla Wildlife Rescue Centre struggles to meet the growing demands of caring for its inhabitants. Despite opposition from certain quarters, including the Capital Development Authority, the IWMB remains steadfast in its dedication to wildlife conservation over commercial interests.

Looking ahead, the Margalla Wildlife Rescue Centre aims to expand its capacity to rehabilitate even more species, including indigenous big cats like leopards. With incidents of human-animal conflict on the rise, the center’s role in fostering coexistence between humans and wildlife is more critical than ever.

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