| Dhodial Pheasantry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 34°25′14″N73°15′13″E / 34.42056°N 73.25361°E /34.42056; 73.25361 | |
| Date opened | 1984[1] |
| Location | Dhodial,Mansehra District,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Pakistan |
| Land area | 21 acres (8.5 ha)[2] |
| No. of animals | >4,000[2] |
| No. of species | 38[3] (pheasants only) |
| Annual visitors | 180,000[4] |
| Major exhibits | ~250[2] |
| Website | dhodialpheasantry.com |
Dhodial Pheasantry (orDhodial Pheasant Center) is apheasantry and breeding center for several species ofpheasants situated inMansehra District,Pakistan. It has been set up for the purposes of research, conservation, tourism, and education. The pheasantry has around 250 exhibits providing shelter to around 4,000 birds.[2]
Dhodial Pheasantry is located onKarakorum Highway in the village ofDhodial,Mansehra District,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Pakistan, 40 kilometres (25 mi) fromAbbottabad, towards the village ofShinkiari. It covers an area of 21 acres (8.5 ha).[2] The Dhodial campus ofHazara University is located near the facility.
Dhodial Pheasantry was established in 1984 by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department with the support of theIUCN and the World Pheasant Association. It was initially set up over an area of 4 acres (1.6 ha).[1]
In 2001, whenHazara University planned to expand its campus over 204 acres (83 ha), thenGovernor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Lt. GenIftikhar Hussain Shah ordered the pheasantry to be relocated to the Jaba Sheep Farm.The Inevitable Flight, a documentary film about this issue, was made by a Pakistani Canadian documentary filmmaker, Azfar Rizvi. This brought the issue under public scrutiny. Subsequently, other factors kicked in and mobilized enough public and political support that the relocation was cancelled.[5][6]
An information center has been developed in the aviary to accommodate visitors, facilitate researchers, and spread awareness among local pheasant breeders.[2] More than 500 people visit the aviary daily. The entry fee for the aviary is 10Pakistani rupees per person.[4]
In 2011, the aviary was closed to the public due to the supposed spread ofbird flu. By July, all of the birds had been vaccinated and the aviary was opened to the public again on July 5, 2011.[4]
Thecheer pheasant, which became extinct in Pakistan, was reintroduced in the region. The World Pheasants Association sent 90 eggs of the species to the Dhodial Pheasantry. Among the eggs which hatched, the mortality was high and remained high till 1995. This situation got better in 1996. In 1997, a parent flock of 40 pairs was raised and eventually reintroduction of the cheer pheasant inHazara District was carried out.[1] As of 2007, there are around 60 pairs of cheer pheasant in the Dhodial Pheasantry.[2]
Dhodial Pheasantry holds captive 38 of the 52 species of pheasants found in the world. Some of these include:[2][3]
The facility also houses some species of mammals:[2][4][5]
| Zoos | |
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| Safari parks | |
| Theme Parks | |
| Aquariums | |
| Aviaries | |
| Wildlife parks | |
| Related people | |
| Related organizations | |
