Barang: Authorities of Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) here are all set to commission a Himalayan bear enclosure on occasion of the zoo’s Foundation Day, December 29.
NZP authorities have been gifting visitors either new animals or new facilities to commemorate the zoo’s Foundation Day.
Sources said the Nandankanan authorities have consulted officials of a Hyderabad-based zoo to construct the Himalayan bear enclosure. “Construction work for the new enclosure is going on at full pace. The Himalayan bear enclosure will be the main attraction on the Foundation Day of Nandankanan,” said NZP range officer Sameer Mohanty.
NZP sources said the new enclosure will have some novel features to provide a congenial atmosphere to the Himalayan bear.
“The enclosure will have an open space of 1,350 square meters for free movement of bear. Besides, there will be two feeding chambers and an artificial pond at the enclosure,” Mohanty said.
It is learnt that NZP authorities are constructing artificial tree trunks, fountain and a few caves to give a natural environment to the Himalayan bear. “The enclosure will have a concrete wall around it. At least four bear can move freely at the enclosure. The zoo has sanctioned `30 lakh for the project,” Mohanty revealed.
Nursery for animal babies
The zoo authorities have also taken steps to set up a nursery for animal babies near a veterinary hospital on Nandankanan
premises.
“We have a constructed a building for the proposed nursery, at a cost of around `5 lakh. Besides, steps are being taken to set up an animal food processing unit, a storehouse and a drugs store near the nursery,” said a zoo official.
The nursery will act as a rehabilitation centre for animal babies rescued from across the state, the official added.
PNN
