LAHORE: The Punjab Wildlife Department has plans to add new varieties of pheasants including Swinhoe`s and Reeves, that are not presently displayed at the breeding and recreational facility at Jallo.

The Jallo Wildlife Park`s bird breeding facility-often referred to as the bird hatchery-has emerged as a cornerstone of Punjab`s efforts to preserve avian biodiversity.

This programme focuses primarily on the pheasants and other wild birds, producing thousands of chicks annually in a captive environment designed like natural habitats.

From humble beginnings to cutting-edge plans for the future, the Jallo Park was established in 1978 on 456 acres of what was once a reserve forest dating back to 1922, originally managed for timber and firewood production. The bird breeding initiative at Jallo Park gained momentum in 2007 when species of pheasants, parrots, peacocks, and other avian species were introduced alongside deer and larger mammals.

The breeding center serves as a sanctuary for rare and exotic birds, including silver pheasants, ring-necked pheasants, green pheasants, yellow golden pheasants, peafowls, francolins, and bobwhite quails.