The Central Zoo () is a zoo in Jawalakhel, Nepal. It is home to some 969 animals in 109 species, and is operated by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). Although it was originally a private zoo, it was opened to the public in 1956.
During the Bhoto Jatra festival, celebrated near the zoo, the zoo may see upwards of 34,000 visitors in a single day after they come to see a historical jeweled vest at the culmination of the Rato Machchhindranath Jatra.
History The Central Zoo was established in 1932 by Rana Prime Minister Juddha Shumser as a private zoo; it came under government control in 1950. It was built under the engineering and project management of General Maheshwar Shamshere Rana (PM Juddha Shamshere's grandson) and his handpicked skilled and unskilled workforce. It was opened to the public in 1956, and in December 1995, the government handed over responsibility of the zoo to the National Trust for Nature Conservation. Although work is not complete, the NTNC has been upgrading the facilities so that animals can live in larger enclosures that simulate their natural environment. It is also working towards turning the zoo into a research and educational facility, as well as remaining a tourist attraction.
The central pond at the zoo is older than the zoo itself. It was built in the seventeenth century during the rule of King Siddhi Narsingh Malla, and at one time was the source of water for Patan.
Animals
The zoo is home to about 870 animals in 109 species, including 15 of 38 endangered local species including Royal Bengal tigers and one-horned rhinoceros, as well as many animals from around the world including hippos, siamang, ostriches, chimpanzee, lemur, and many birds. It also has an aquarium for subtropical fish.
Mammals Mammals at the zoo include: Species Scientific nameProboscidea speciesAsian elephantElephas maximusPerissodactyla speciesIndian rhinocerosRhinoceros unicornisCarnivora speciesBengal tigerPanthera tigrisSnow leopardPanthera unciaBlack pantherPanthera pardusClouded leopardNeofelis nebulosaIndian leopardPanthera pardus fuscaRed pandaAilurus fulgensHimalayan black bearUrsus thibetanusSloth bearMelursus ursinusStriped hyenaHyaena hyaenaGolden jackalCanis aureusBengal FoxVulpes bengalensisJungle catFelis chausLeopard catPrionailurus bengalensisCommon palm civetParadoxurus hermaphroditusHimalayan palm civetPaguma larvataLarge Indian civetViverra zibethaSmall Indian civetViverricula indicaIndian mongooseUrva edwardsiiArtiodactyl speciesWild water buffaloBubalus arneeHippopotamusHippopotamus amphibiusHimalayan blue sheepPseudois nayaurHimalayan goralNaemorhedus goralIndian muntjacMuntiacus vaginalisIndian hog deerAxis porcinusAlbino muntjacMuntiacus vaginalisSpotted deerAxis axisSwamp deerRucervus duvauceliiSambar deerRusa unicolorBlackbuckAntilope cervicapraNilgaiBoselaphus tragocamelusFour-horned antelopeTetracerus quadricornisWild boarSus scrofaPrimate speciesChimpanzeePan troglodytesRing-tailed lemurLemur cattaSiamangSymphalangus syndactylusMona monkeyCercopithecus monaPatas monkeyErythrocebus patasVervet monkeyChlorocebus pygerythrusAssam macaqueMacaca assamensisCommon langur Semnopithecus schistaceusRhesus macaqueMacaca mulattaRodent speciesAlbino crested porcupine Hystrix cristataCrested porcupine Hystrix cristataIndian palm squirrel Funambulus palmarumNorthern palm squirrelFunambulus pennantii
Reptiles Reptiles at the zoo include:
Species Scientific nameCrocodilia species GharialGavialis gangeticus Chinese alligatorAlligator sinensis Mugger crocodileCrocodylus palustrisSquamata speciesBengal monitorVaranus bengalensisAsian rock pythonPython molurusMonocled cobraNaja kaouthiaTestudines speciesAldabra tortoiseAldabrachelys giganteaIndian pond turtleMelanochelys trijugaIndian roofed turtlePangshura tectaTricarinate hill turtleMelanochuelys tricarinataYellow-headed temple turtleHeosemys annandaliiRed-eared sliderTrachemys scripta elegans
Birds Birds at the zoo include:
Albino peacock Alexandrine parakeet Bar-headed goose Black kite Black-headed ibis Black-necked stork Blue rock pigeon Blue-and-yellow macaw Budgerigar Chestnut munia Chukar partridge Cockatiel Comb duck Common crane Common emerald dove Common kestrel Common ostrich Common quail Demoiselle crane Dusky eagle-owl Eastern barn owl Emu Eurasian eagle-owl Fantail pigeon Golden pheasant Great horned owl Great white pelican Grey heron Grey parrot Greylag goose Guinea fowl Himalayan monal Himalayan griffon vulture Indian silverbill Java sparrow Kalij pheasant Lady Amherst pheasant Lesser adjutant Lesser whistling duck Love bird Myna Oriental pied hornbill Peacock Rainbow lorikeet Red munia Red-breasted parakeet Reeve's pheasant Ring-necked pheasant Rose-ringed parakeet Ruddy shelduck Salmon-crested cockatoo Sarus crane Satyr tragopan Scarlet macaw Silver pheasant Speckled pigeon Spoonbill Spotted munia Sulphur crested cockatoo White cockatoo White stork White-naped crane Wood duck Zebra finch
Central Zoo animal overview Animals in the Central Zoo of Nepal are in the following categories and numbers, : Categories Species Number Mammals 43 200 Reptiles 9 21 Fishes 14 232 Birds 80 500 Total 146 953
Other facilities
The zoo includes a library, a children's small fun park, picnic areas and paddle boats on the lake. Fishing is allowed in the lake during some parts of the year.
Zoo gallery Mammals
Reptiles
Birds
References
External links
Central Zoo official website Project page on NTNC official website NTNC official website