Emperor Jahangir and The Transformation of Mughal Empire – Part 5

Emperor Jahangir was extremely fond of nature and exotic animals. He had a huge collection of animals at his royal zoo and used to keenly observe the physical structure and behavior of all the animals. His Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri contains detailed observations of birds and animals.

In 1619, Shah Abbas of Iran gifted Jahangir a Barbary falcon. Jahangir later gifted him a zebra brought from Ethiopia by a merchant named Mir Jafar. When the beloved falcon died, Jahangir ordered an exact portrait to preserve its memory. He also built the famous Hiran Minar in Sheikhupura, Punjab, in memory of his favorite deer, Hansraj.

Jahangir also collected a rare turkey, reportedly from Goa, in 1612. Mughal artists painted the bird in the royal studio. Jahangir described its changing colors, peacock-like display and unusual features in detail.