Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s biggest zoological garden, the Nandankanan Zoological Park – which was badly battered by cyclone Fani – will reopen May 21.
Fani didn’t take long to destroy the zoo. The trees from the main gate to Daruthenga were all destroyed. The fallen trees have now been cleared and the situation is returning to normal. Restoration is underway and the government has decided to reopen the zoo May 21.
Environmentalists say it will take 20 years to restore the trees, for which zoo guides, foresters and the Forest Department are putting their minds together. Electricians are also working 24×7 on the zoo premises.
Fani damaged many areas inside the zoo forcing authorities to close the zoo for 20 days. Earlier, during cyclones, the zoo used to be closed for five days.
The zoo houses around 3,000 animals belonging to 156 species. The adjoining State Botanical Garden (which constitutes a sanctuary along with the zoo), too was also badly damaged in the May 3 cyclone.
Facilities meant for tourists, including recreational areas for children, were also damaged. The Forest and Environment Department has put the losses at around Rs 537 crore due to the cyclone.
Around nine lakh trees were damaged in the forest and sanctuary areas, and around five lakh trees were uprooted or damaged outside the forest areas during the storm. Eight lakh saplings were also damaged.
Sources said this is the worst calamity to have hit the zoo since the 1999 Super Cyclone. The following year the zoo lost a dozen tigers to Trypanosomiasis, a disease spread by flies.
