NANDANKANAN : NATURE’S
GIFT TO ORISSA
The Nandankanan Zoological
Park is one of the major tourist attractions of Orissa. It has
the distinction of being the host zoo in the world for captive
breeding of white tigers which originated in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
Internationally acclaimed for its large collection of white tigers,
Nandanakanan is also the first-ever captive breeding centre of
endangered species for creating awareness towards wildlife. The
unique natural ambience of Nandankanan with a wide variety of
animals also serves as a rehabilitation centre of problematic
wild animals. It also acts as a rescue centre for abandoned, injured
and incapacitated animals.
This zoo aims
at conserving and breeding different endangered species. The effort
includes exchange of animals with other zoological parks to maintain
diversity and rehabilitation of endangered creatures such as the
gharials. The zoological park has been exchanging various
species of wildlife rescued or bred under captivity to other registered
zoos and institutions within India and abroad in exchange for
similar endangered species. Above all, Nandankanan also has the
distinction of releasing cheetals, black bucks and crocodiles
bred in protected areas of the State into their natural habitats.
Lion safari,
tiger safari, deer safari, aerial ropeway, reptile park, nocturnal
house, aquarium, toy train, boating, elephant ride, library and
film shows are some of the special features of Nandankanan which
attracts about 10 to 12 lakh visitors every year. Three battery-operated
vehicles have been put in service for the safaris. These pollution-free
and noiseless vehicles were obtained from BHEL, Bhopal, and formally
launched on December 29, 2001 the 41st foundation day of the park.
Situated along
the Kolkata-Chennai railway line near Barang railway station,
the Nandankanan Zoological Park was established on December 27,
1960. It is only two kilometres away from the Barang railway station,
17 kms from Cuttack and 20 kms from Orissa’s capital, Bhubaneswar.
Krishnanagar and Jujhagarh protected forest blocks along with
Kanjia lake, some government wasteland and private lands covering
more than 437 hectares were notified as Nandankanan sanctuary
by the government of Orissa in 1979. Within its perimeters the
Zoological Park covers 362 hectres of undulating forest areas,
nautral wasteland and Kanjia lake which itself covers 66 hectares.
The Nandankanan Zoological Park was declared as a polythene –
free zone by the Orissa Pollution Control Board last year. It
nurtures 46 species of mammals, 59 species of birds and 21 species
of reptiles. The first incidence of spot bill hatching in captivity
took place at Nandankanan on June 5, 2001.The first successful
captive breeding of sloth bear was recorded on October 23 of the
same year. The first captive breeding of mouse deer took place
subsequently.
White Tiger
The first white
tiger named ‘Diana’ was brought from the National Zoological Park,
Delhi to Nandankanan in 1978. It was renamed ‘Subhra’ later. Nandankanan
has its own lineage of white tigers which incidentally resulted
in the birth of three white cubs in 1980, born to normal coloured
parents. This species of white tiger is a changed form of the
normal coloured Royal Bengal Tiger. Because of its colour pattern
aberrations, this white tiger was liked by all. Consequently,
a global demand for white tiger has been received from zoos in
different countries across the globe. The Nandankanan Zoological
Park had also sustained a planned breeding programme for white
tigers. The white tiger cubs bred in captivity at Nandankanan
have been sent to many zoos within the country and abroad. Because
of an adequate stock of white tigers, Nandankanan has been operating
a white tiger safari which is unique in the world. A visitor who
has enjoyed the sight of a white tiger on its prowl will never
forget the moment and cherish it for ever. Now Nandankanan has
13 white tigers. Five of them are to be released in its white
tiger safari.
Gharial
The first ever
successful captive breeding of gharial in an artificially-constructed
water tank had occurred at Nandankanan in 1980. The captive male
was brought from Frankfurt zoo, Germany, for captive breeding
with Indian crocodiles under a UNDP programme. The lone male gharial
had successfully procreated in captivity till 1999. It was named
Bajrabahu because of its huge size. But due to severe stress during
the super cyclone it died in 2000. It was only in the year 2002
that one of the offsprings of Bajra-bahu grew into a male crocodile,
i.e. gharial. In April 2003 this male captive crocodile
fathered crocks which came out from two clutches. This is the
first instance of successful breeding by a male crocodile which
was itself bred in captivity. Five hundred young gharials bred
in captivity were released in the Mahanadi river system from the
Nandankanan Zoo in the last 15 years.
Nandankanan enjoys
a special place in the hearts of visitors and wildlife lovers
from all over the world. (PIB Features)
Inputs
by Shri Prabhukalyan Mohapatra, Freelance Journalist
