Punjab Newsline,Punjab :
Rising awareness about wildlife; over 500,000 people visit Chhatbir Zoo in 2025
The sustained and focused efforts of the Punjab Government are now yielding visible results. With growing curiosity among the general public and especially the student community to learn more about Punjab’s rich and diverse wildlife, Chhatbir Zoo has witnessed a significant increase in visitor numbers over the past year. From January to December 2025, more than 500,000 people visited Chhatbir Zoo, also known as the Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park. Among them, students from government schools formed the largest group, with over 62,000 students visiting the zoo during this period.
These encouraging figures are the outcome of the dedicated initiatives undertaken by the Forests and Wildlife Preservation Department, guided by the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and implemented under the leadership of Forest and Wildlife Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak. The department’s consistent efforts have successfully rekindled public interest in Chhatbir Zoo, turning it into an important centre for education, awareness, and recreation.
In addition to government school students, a substantial number of students from private institutions also visited the zoo in 2025. More than 18,000 students from private primary schools and over 16,000 students from private high schools were part of these visits. This impressive footfall highlights the keen interest of Punjab’s younger generation in understanding wildlife and developing empathy towards animals, recognising that biodiversity is an integral part of nature.
Established in 1977, Chhatbir Zoo regularly organises a variety of activities aimed at sensitising youth and the general public about the importance of flora and fauna. These activities include blood donation camps, the ‘Run for Wild’ initiative, and structured zoo education programmes designed to promote environmental awareness and conservation values.
One of the major attractions at the zoo is the country’s biggest and longest walk-in aviary, which has become a focal point for visitors. The zoo has also added an ultra-modern dinosaur park, further enhancing its appeal, particularly among children. In the wildlife safari area, spread over approximately 1,200 metres, the boundary wall has been strengthened to ensure better safety. Additionally, a solar power plant with a capacity of 260 kV has been installed, reflecting the government’s commitment to sustainable development.
To further improve animal care and visitor facilities, a critical care unit has been constructed at the lion safari for carnivorous animals. An open-air zoo education plaza has also been developed to assist visitors, especially school children, making Chhatbir Zoo a key hub for wildlife education and conservation awareness in Punjab.