LAHORE: The Lahore Zoo Safari has recently inaugurated a new pheasantry to house Chakor, which is the national bird of Pakistan. The facility is home to approximately 700 Chakors.

Known for their association with love songs and romantic poetry, Chakors are symbolized as birds of passion, love, and good luck. This new pheasantry at the Safari Park is part of the Green Pakistan project. The Punjab Wildlife Department has acquired these Chakors from private breeding farms for the purpose of breeding and later reintroducing them into the wild. The population of Chakors has significantly declined in Punjab, where large flocks of these birds used to be present in the past. Now, they are found in small numbers.

Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali, a wildlife expert from the Institute of Zoology at the University of Punjab, informed Dawn that the Chakor population in Punjab has declined by 80% due to hunting and poaching. Although commercial breeding of Chakors has achieved some success, those raised in captivity cannot be released into the wild as they become dependent on easy feeding and lose their ability to forage for food. To rehabilitate Chakors through captive breeding in the wild, an aviary spanning approximately six acres is required, where the birds are not fed by keepers and can search for food on their own.

Ghulam Rasool, deputy director of the Lahore Zoo Safari, stated that the Chakor facility would be a delightful attraction for bird enthusiasts. The successful breeding of Chakors in this facility is expected to contribute to an increase in their numbers. The Punjab Wildlife Department plans to establish additional enclosures for Chakors in various areas of Punjab once they achieve successful breeding results.

Chakor, the national bird of Pakistan, possesses a captivating voice. It is commonly found in rocky areas, mountains, and desert regions, particularly in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Iran, and other similar countries. Chakors thrive in high-elevation habitats with a dry climate, rocky hillsides, mountains, scattered grass, and scrubby grounds.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2023