Wildlife of Pakistan: Wildlife News (2005)

LAHORE: Lahore zoo is hosting two precious falcons as ‘guests,’ Daily Times learnt on Tuesday. Zoo officials refused to give any information about them. Two security men were deployed to protect the falcons and prevent people from seeing or inquiring about them. “I cannot say anything about these falcons,” said Lahore Zoo Director Yousaf Paal. “They are guests,” he added. Some zoo sources requesting anonymity told Daily Times that the falcons were brought by Muhammad Iqbal for the wildlife department and would be given to the chief minister, who would present them to an Arab prince who would visit Pakistan. Public Relations Director General Shoaib Bin Aziz said he did not know anything about the falcons. When Daily Times photographer Abid Nawaz took photographs of the falcons, the zoo’s security rushed to rebuke the guard on duty. “You were deployed here to prevent them from being photographed by the press,” they said to him.