Kabul Zoo — Attraction in 3rd District

The founders of the zoo and their German advisors did well for Afghanistan for that period. Even a pond enclosure to mimic Afghanistan's well-known waterfowl lake, Ab-e-Istada, was included where one could see Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus), Spoonbills (Platalea leucocoridia), Stilts (Himantopus himantopus), Shelducks (Tadorna tadorna) and Ruddy Shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea). In addition Afghan pheasants were kept and bred in a pheasantry besides several exotic species. Afghan subspecies of the common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus bianchii) lives only in northern Afghanistan. Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) as well as Koklass (Pucrasia macrolopha) is from Nuristan in east Afghanistan

The zoo maintained the Afghanistan leopard which could be seen only in six zoos of the world at the time. In 1973 a snow leopard was donated from "royal breeding stock" of the King along with some other animals.

Cologne Zoo, Germany, contributed the pair of tigers which were possibly (Panthera tigris) or perhaps an undeterminate subspecies. The 1969 Red Data Book of IUCN estimated that the total number of the Caspian Tiger (Panthera tigris virgata) ranging through northern Afghanistan, Turkestan and northern Iran was 50 to 80. Dr. Gunther Nogge conducted several expeditions to the Amu Darya region, however, and was convinced that the sub-species no longer existed in Afghanistan

Kabul Zoo today, according to the occasional visitor and welfare organizations, is not faring well. It is still supported by the Kabul Municipal authority or the Taliban Mayor of Kabul but the war and political instability as well as social and economic difficulties have taken a vast toll. There is no legislation or official agreement for the zoo which, then, is at the mercy of the inclination of the government officials which happen to be holding the Municipal posts

The focus of the zoo was Afghan fauna. In 1972 there were 32 species of mammals, 85 species of birds and 4 species of reptiles. The total number of animals in the zoo was 417, nearly all of which were collected in Afghanistan. There was also a lion, a tiger, some pheasants and parrots. Twenty five years ago there were several rare species listed in the Red Data Book of IUCN and others which were rarely seen in captivity.

The zoo was very popular with visitors and press. In 1972 the number of visitors was more than 150,000, an increase of more than 20% over the previous. Thus, public interest could be fired about wildlife problems in Afghanistan. The first hunting law was drafted with a proposal for the establishment of wildlife reserves in different parts of the country.

———————— Thanks For...

Kabul Zoo is one of the most visited place in Kabul Afghanistan. This Zoo was founded in 1967. Unfortunately this zoo was damaged during civil wars in Kabul. Before wars there were more than 90 different animal kept in this zoo the total amount were about 1800 animals. After wars the living condition of these animals became very bad day by day it's gone worse and worse many of them were died due to bad living conditions. this situation is still going on right now unfortunately the animal are in bad condition. Despite these there are more than 500 visitors in this zoo except Fridays and holidays which the amount of visitors became up to 5000 people. Monthly they spend about 3000 american dollars for feeding these animals. This zoo needs to be rebuild and have very serious and expert maintenance team. I'm looking forward to see this zoo as best zoo of...

Even though Kabul zoo is no longer as full of animals as 1990 and before, but it is still good place to experience seeing some animals and pass time. When I was like 6 years old we used to live close to the zoo and would go there frequently, I have very bitter experience when we used to live near the zoo when so called Mujahideen took over of Kabul started fighting against each other. They placed heavy arms inside the zoo and they let the animals free. Elephant died due to D-30 Russian Hawitzer placed inside firing dozens of rounds every day. I personally saw monckies climbed the trees on the streets throwing things at people. That was the time when our home got hit by two missles completely and my mother martyred and a brother of mine got serious...