Barang: At least 5,000 tourists could not visit the Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) here Tuesday as the zoo remained closed as per the Forest department guidelines.
The zoo remains closed for visitors on Mondays. However, the zoological park remains open Monday if special occasions like the Independence Day, the Republic Day, Xmas, Christmas, Dussehra and the middle day of the annual Rajo festival fall on that day. On these days the zoo remains closed Tuesday. Accordingly, the zoo was opened Monday (Dec 25) due to the Christmas. The NZP authorities had published a notice in this regard on various media and also put up several banners at the zoo.
However, at least 5,000 tourists, apparently unaware of the development, gathered at the main gate of the zoo Tuesday. Security personnel and zoo employees faced a tough task to help the tourists understand about the official norms.
“The zoo will remain open on January 1 even though it falls on Monday. But, visitors will not be allowed to enter into the zoo the next day,” said NZP deputy director Jayanta Kumar Das.
PNN
