Lahore Zoo has introduced a cutting-edge HoloVerse, offering visitors an unprecedented opportunity to engage with virtual and mixed reality technology, creating a closer connection to wildlife than ever before.
In collaboration with a private company, the zoo has launched this interactive platform, where visitors can virtually interact with wild animals, experience the sensation of touching them, and enjoy wildlife films in 3D cinemas.
Speaking to News, Lahore Zoo Director Sheikh Muhammad Zahid highlighted three advanced technologies integrated into the HoloVerse: Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), and Hologram 3D Cinema.
Through the VR experience, visitors will feel immersed in a jungle environment, encountering wild animals in a lifelike setting. This technology allows participants to see exotic animals they may never have seen before, delivering a fully immersive adventure.
A Express News reporter experienced the Mixed Reality feature, observing animals such as dinosaurs, elephants, and lions up close. Visitors can also take photos with these virtual creatures.
During the VR session, when an African lion appeared to attack, the reporter described the adrenaline rush, emphasizing the realistic and thrilling nature of the experience.
The VR simulation captures the essence of being in a jungle, surrounded by wild animals, birds, and insects, where participants can observe or evade in a dynamic environment.
Sheikh Muhammad Zahid revealed that ticket prices for the experiences are set at 100 Pakistani rupees for Virtual Reality, 200 rupees for Mixed Reality, and 300 rupees for Hologram 3D Cinema. Visitors can choose individual experiences or opt for all three.
The HoloVerse is managed by a private company, and Zahid mentioned plans to introduce family and student packages in the future, making the experience more accessible to a broader audience.
He attributed the success of this initiative to senior Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, Secretary of Forests and Wildlife Mudassar Waheed Malik, and particularly DG Wildlife Mudassar Riaz Malik.
Zahid noted that the project, which stemmed from the DG Wildlife’s vision, has now been brought to fruition, offering a one-of-a-kind recreational opportunity for the public.
