Nandankanan adds two new amenities

BHUBANESWAR: THE Nandankanan Zoo on Tuesday unveiled a hyena enclosure and dedicated waiting facility for visitors hiring battery operated vehicles. Forest and Environment Minister Bijoyshree Routray inaugurated the new amenities in presence of Chief Wildlife Warden Sandeep Tripathy and Director SK Acharya.

The hyena enclosure was renovated as it was too small to accommodate the seven inmates. The enclosure, redone at a cost of `35 lakh, is spread over 1,810 sq metre. It consists of six feeding chambers, a keepers’ corridor, four back kraals, two display areas and a visitors’ path.

The facility for battery operated vehicle has been constructed at an estimated `8.84 lakh utilising CAMPA funds. Since there was no designated shed-cum-waiting room for visitors using batter operated vehicles, the facility will come handy. The zoo authorities are planning to add more vehicles with different sitting capacity in coming days taking into consideration the demand.

Deputy Director of the zoo JK Das said, new projects are on the anvil and as part of it, the old toy train facility is being renovated by RITES Ltd. The work is expected to be complete by June 30. Similarly, a new ropeway will be installed and the project has been entrusted to Damodar Ropeways and Infra Limited.
The management is also planning construction of a quarantine near Gate No 1. Besides, a modified enclosure for Himalayan Black Bear and safari bus parking area and waiting place will also be constructed.