Lahore Zoo has launched a next-generation HoloVerse, which will soon allow visitors to experience virtual and mixed reality technology, bringing them closer to wildlife than ever before.
The zoo has partnered with a private company to run HoloVerse, where citizens will be able to virtually interact with wild animals, touch them and watch wildlife-related movies in 3D theaters.
Speaking to Express News, Lahore Zoo Director Sheikh Muhammad Zahid explained that three unique technologies have been introduced within the HoloVerse: virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR) and 3D cinema with holograms.
Under the virtual reality experience, visitors will feel as if they are in the heart of a jungle, where they will encounter dangerous wild animals in a realistic environment. Virtual reality technology will allow people to see animals they may have never encountered before, making it a truly immersive experience.
An Express News reporter had the opportunity to experience Mixed Reality technology, where animals such as dinosaurs, elephants and lions were observed up close. Visitors will also be able to capture photos with these virtual creatures.
During the virtual reality experience, when an African lion suddenly attacked, the journalist also felt the thrill of danger, highlighting the realism of the experience. The technology creates the sensation of being in a dangerous jungle, surrounded by animals, insects and wild birds, where both observation and evasion are part of the adventure.
Sheikh Muhammad Zahid further shared that the ticket prices for these experiences are set at Rs 100 for Virtual Reality, Rs 200 for Mixed Reality and Rs 300 for 3D Hologram Cinema.
Visitors can choose to explore all three options or select individual experiences based on their preferences.
The HoloVerse has been handed over to a private company and Zahid mentioned that family packs and student packs may be introduced in the future, offering more convenience to visitors.
He also attributed the success of this innovative project to the tireless efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, Secretary Forest and Wildlife Mudassar Waheed Malik and especially Director General Wildlife Mudassar Riaz Malik.
Zahid emphasized that this was the realization of a dream imagined by DG Wildlife, which has now become a reality, providing citizens with a unique and exciting recreational opportunity.
