Kabul Zoo, Public zoo in western Kabul, Afghanistan
Kabul Zoo covers 7.1 hectares on the bank of the Kabul River by Deh Mazang Circle, with its public entrance on Asmayi Road opposite the Traffic Police Headquarters. It opened in 1967 with a focus on Afghan fauna and now holds over 100 species, including 40 bird species. A bronze lion statue stands at the entrance.
Kabul Zoo opened in 1967 on the bank of the Kabul River, laid out on a large site by a committee for zoological projects convened by Prince Nadir, working with Kabul University's science faculty and the German zoologist Gunther Nogge. By 1972 it held 417 animals, including a tiger pair from Cologne Zoo and a young female Asian elephant given by Indian President Giri. Ali Agha Nahif directed it from 1974 to 1975 and 1978 to 1981, adding a veterinary department and a parasitology laboratory in 1980. Shelling in the 1990s civil war damaged the aquarium and killed the elephant Hathi; the zoo was partly restored after 2001.
The zoo functions as a weekend gathering place where families spend time together in an open space. Staff members develop personal bonds with the animals they care for, which visitors can observe in their daily interactions.
Weekends tend to draw larger crowds, so visiting on other days offers a more relaxed experience. The grounds are spread out, so plan time to walk through different sections comfortably.
Marjan was a male lion gifted by Cologne Zoo and became the zoo's best-loved animal; he died in 2002 and is buried on the grounds. A bronze lion statue donated by China stands at the entrance and is a favourite subject for souvenir photographs.
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