Biodiversity & Environment
Nandankanan Zoological Park
- 09 Nov 2018
- 3 min read
The Central Zoo Authority has opposed the move to shift a tigress captured from Odisha’s Satkosia Tiger Reserve to Nandankanan Zoological Park.
- As per the National Zoo Policy, 1998, except for obtaining founder animals for approved breeding programme and infusion of new blood into inbreed groups, no zoo shall collect animals from the wild.
Nandankanan Zoological Park
- Nandankanan, literally meaning The Garden of Heaven, is located near Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- Unlike other zoos in the country, Nandankanan is built right inside the forest and set in a completely natural environment.
- Nandankanan is among the six participating zoos for the conservation breeding of White-backed vulture.
Few Unique Features of the Nandankanan Zoological Park
- First zoo in the World to breed White tiger and Melanistic tiger.
- White Tiger is a rare form of Bengal Tiger with a unique (recessive) gene which gives it a white color. A white tiger is not a sub-specie of tiger. White tigers are born only when two bengal tigers that possess a recessive gene (gene that affect the coat color) are bred together.
- Melanistic Tigers are black striped tigers which are born purely due to genetic reasons. Increased development of melanin pigment in the body causes black stripes. Melanistic tigers are rarely found in the world.
- Only conservation breeding centre of Indian Pangolin in the world.
- Only zoological park in India to become an institutional member of World Association of Zoos and Aquarium (WAZA).
- Gharials have bred for the first time in captivity in the world at Nandankanan Zoological Park in 1980.
- The first zoo in India where endangered Ratel was born in captivity.
- The second largest heronry for Open Billed Storks in Odisha.
Central Zoo Authority
- Central Zoo Authority is a statutory body whose main objective is to enforce minimum standards and norms for upkeep and health care of animals in India zoos.
- Zoos are regulated as per the provisions of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and are guided by the National Zoo Policy, 1992. The Wild Life Protection was amended in 1991 to establish the Central Zoo Authority.
