Nandankan Celebrated Its 58th Birthday

Nandankan Celebrated Its 58th Birthday

An all new constructed Himalayan Black Bear enclosure was dedicated to visitors on the occasion of the 58th Foundation Day of the Nandankanan Zoological Park. 

The old Himalayan Black Bear enclosure with an area of 159 sqmt was not spacious enough to accommodate even two Himalayan Bears and was lying in dilapidated condition. In 2016, extension work of the enclosure was taken up with initial budgeting provision of Rs. 20 lakhs which was completed in December, 2017 with a total expenditure of Rs. 35 lakhs from the society budget of Nandankanan.

The total area of the new enclosure is now 1350 sqmt. For the better management and health care of the bears, the enclosure now boasts of much improved facilities and infrastructure in accordance with the CZA guidelines. The facilities include 147m of solid concrete peripheral wall, two feeding chambers, keeper’s corridor, three back kraal, 21m long dry moat, a paved visitor path with stand-off barrier & screening, magnificient displaying area with habitat friendly enrichment and a beautiful waterfall with central pool.

Besides dedication of the new enclosure, the event, which was presided by MLA, Bhubaneswar (North), Priyadarshi Mishra, and graced by Additional Chief Secretary, Forest & Environment Department, Suresh Chandra Mohapatra as chief guest witnessed the presence of many eminent personalities from different walks of life joining in for the celebration day of the largest zoological park in the state. He declared that Odisha government has sanctioned Rs. 30 crores for the development of the zoo this year.While IFS PCCF (WL) & CWLW, Dr. Sandeep Tripathy and District Magistrate & Collector, IAS Nirmal Chandra Mishra attended as guests of honour, Jayant Kumar Das, OFS (SB) Deputy Director, Nandankanan Zoological Park, Director Nandankanan Biological Park Sisir Kumar Acharya and ACF, State Botanical Garden, Girish Kumar Satpathy were also present. 

Among others, Ex-Directors of Nandankanan Zoological Park, Senior Forest Officers of the state, NGOs & eminent personalities of the state, researchers and academicians, members of Technical and Health Committees of Nandankanan Zoological Park and local people and staff members of the park attended.