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Karachi zoo is the second oldest and the biggest in Pakistan. Although the zoological gardens have undergone numerous changes, served various purposes and held different titles since its inception in 1799, they remain one of the oldest landmarks of the city.

In 1775, the merchants of the East India Company were evicted by the Kalhoras as they were suspicious of the British. Subsequently, during the early Talpur rule, local Hindu merchants also placed an embargo on the presence of the British. But ultimately, when the Talpurs gave in to the Company demands, Nathan Crow was sent as the British Agent to Karachi and Thatta in 1799. It was in his administration that the East India Company established a factory in the then deserted outskirts of Karachi in 1799. The factory had huge gardens surrounding it. Due to his dubious activities, Crow was expelled in 1800 and the factory was closed down. The gardens became government gardens �" known locally as Sarkari Bagh and marked on the map of Karachi prepared by Commander Charles in 1833.

As the British constructed quarters in Karachi for their soldiers in 1839, this 43-acre garden began to be used for cultivation of fruit and vegetables for the consumption of British forces under the supervision of Major W. Blenkins, Assistant Commissary-General and Superintendent of Gardens. Blenkins undertook its redesign. The irrigation was arranged from Lyari River and a dairy farm was also established on this piece of land. The government provided 100 rupees each month for its maintenance. In 1847, Major Blenkins reported that he had not drawn that subsidy for two years and, on the contrary, during the same period had made a profit of 17,032 rupees for the government. This was achieved by feeding vegetables to the troops, fodder to government cattle, the sale of its produce to private parties and the supply of pigeons, rabbits and leeches to the local hospital. By this time it had at least 15 wells and a reasonable water delivery system too.

J.E. Stocks wrote in Note on the Botany of Scinde (1846): “Sir Charles Napier is doing great things; has planted rows of young trees over all the avenues and streets; and has formed a capital government garden, which is a depot for garden shrubs, and supplies the troops with fresh European vegetables.”

The government transferred the garden to the municipality in 1861 on the condition that it will not be sublet or transferred. It was converted into a public garden in 1869 and was renamed as Queen Victoria Garden which was locally called Rani Bagh, presumably some time during this hand over. Travel writer Richard Burton described the availability of sweet water and a bandstand for music in the garden in 1877. The municipality sought some improvements and in 1878 planned to develop a zoo with a proviso that it be maintained on public subscriptions through a trust.

HRH Imam Aga Ali Shah built a palace in Karachi which was known as Pir ji Wadi (the valley of the pir) that faced the zoological gardens. He obtained permission from Henry Napier Bruce Erskine, the Commissioner in Sindh, to build a gate of the garden in 1882. The Imam bore its cost; an existing plate indicates the donation of the space for the gate.

As was happening with some other colonial gardens, a small zoo was established in 1884 which was laid out under the supervision of Benjamin Traill Ffinch as Chairman of the Garden Committee (he was also the director of Indo-European Telegraph Company) assisted by H.M. Birdwood. Cricket and croquet grounds, a handsome bandstand and well-laid paths were established. Ffinch conceived the idea of importing plantation from abroad and obtained expert advice from botanists. His correspondence to this effect is archived in the records of Kew Gardens in London. Karachi's own residents donated much of the early animal collection. A beautiful and well-laid garden emerged. By 1890, there were 93 mammals and 465 birds housed there. W. Strachan was appointed as its first professional (zoological) superintendent in 1889 who served for 10 years. The succeeding European superintendent failed to do a good job and left soon after his appointment. After that, for the first time, the locals were assigned this position. Initially it was Ali Mahomed who served until his death in 1911. His brother, Ali Murad, who initially supported the zoo as an overseer of the animals, took over as superintendent in 1911.

The centrepiece of the garden, a beautifully executed Victorian fountain was constructed in 1883 jointly by the municipality and N.N. Poochajee in memory of Bombay philanthropist Cowasjee Jehangir Readymoney. An 18-foot high four-layered fountain is connected to an 11,000-gallon tank through which water keeps circulating.

[Text Source: Dawn Newspaper | Coordinates: Talha Nasir | Photos from Dawn's Article and Google Map users]

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