Master Planning of Zoos - Central Zoo Authority

number of zoos, mini zoos, deer parks in the
country would now run into several hundreds. The
Nandankanan Zoo was established in the year
1960. This is a zoo, as you can see, in a wholly
natural setting. Including a massive water body, it
is spread over about 362 hectares of lush green
area.
Nandankanan has had two master plans so far: The
first one was prepared in 1967 and the second one
was prepared in the year 2001. In the interim
periods, many Five year Plans and Annual Plans
have been brought into operation. The master plan
has made comprehensive recommendations in
regard to display arrangement of the animals and
modification of enclosures, phasing out surplus
animals, veterinary care and sanitation, water and
power supply, security, development of landscapes
and the lake, visitor amenities, educational and
research programmes, fodder farm, zoo
infrastructure, and contingency plan for
emergencies. There is always a scope for
improvisation. No master plan is a static document.
With the ideas and inputs of this training
programme, I am sure Nandankanan will open a
new vision for itself.
The natural ambition of a large zoo like
Nandankanan would be to take up “captive
conservation breeding” and “re-introduction’’ of
threatened species back into their original habitat.
Nandankanan has a record of captive breeding of
many species, namely Gharial Crocodile, Tiger,
Leopard, Pangolin, Himalayan Black bear, Sloth
bear, Mouse deer etc. I understand, it will now
take up captive conservation breeding of Vultures.
However, re-introduction of these species (except
Gharials) into the wild has eluded the zoo. The
ex-situ and in-situ conservation programmes have
to be linked and a zoo master plan should chalk
out strategies for linking the breeding in the zoo
to conservation in the wild.
With these words, I inaugurate this programme of
training and experience sharing, and wish success
to the mission.
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