Indira Gandhi Zoological Park

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is located amidst Kambalakonda Reserve Forest in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the third largest zoo in the country.[2][3]

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park
Date opened1977
LocationVisakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates17.7691°N 83.3500°E / 17.7691; 83.3500
Land area625 acres (253 ha)
No. of animals850
No. of species75
Annual visitors10 million
MembershipsCZA[1]
Websitevizagzoo.com
Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Zoo Park, Visakhapatnam
Blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), Zoo Park
Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala), Zoo Park
Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), Zoo Park
Gharial Gavialis gangeticus), Zoo Park

The zoological park is named after the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. It was declared open to the public on 19 May 1977.[4] It covers an area of 625 acres (253 ha). It is situated in Visakhapatnam amidst the scenic Eastern Ghats of India. It is surrounded by the Eastern Ghats on three sides and Bay of Bengal on the fourth side. Nearly eighty species of animals numbering to about eight hundred are present in the zoo. The Zoo Park has different sections for primates, carnivores, lesser carnivores, small mammals, reptiles, ungulates and birds caged in their natural ambiance.

The zoo park is about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from the Visakhapatnam railway station on the National Highway 5 near Madhurawada. It has entrance and exit gates situated oppositely, with one towards National Highway 5 and the other towards Beach Road at Sagar Nagar. It is open to public daily except Monday.

Unique features & special attractions

625 acres (253 ha) land area with abundant flora & fauna. Nearly 80 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles are present in the zoo (more than 800 animals).

In collaboration with Stardust Ventures LLP, Vizag zoo launched a web portal, to engage the community with latest events. It also allows general public to adopt an animal for certain time period.

Battery vehicles facility to visit zoo.

Natural reserve forest atmosphere.

Open reptile (especially snakes) "serpentarium". Entire zoo park is provided with free wifi facility.

Special breeding programmes like Indian wild dog (dhole), white tigers. Free living animals like spotted deers, wild boars and birds etc.

Best interactive & impressive, innovative knowledgeable educational activities.

Pollution free environment, best picnic spot & tourist place.
An excellent interpretation & wild life learning center and a Library are present inside the zoo park near the canteen (Bioscope) with touch table & specimens which is very useful to understand about significance of nature & to improve wild life knowledge.

Various educational awareness activities & programmes specially conducted for children, students.

Exhibits

In an area of 625 acres (253 ha) the zoological park located among the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary of Eastern Ghats, the zoo has enclosures for primates, carnivores, lesser carnivores, small mammals, reptiles, ungulates and birds aviaries with a well-planned layout map, a jungle along a water body inside the zoo park. The animal exhibits in the zoo park are as follows:

Birds

Endemic: Pelican (rosy and gray), Painted stork, Peafowl, Duck, Spotted dove, Lovebird, Parakeet, Eagle, Vulture.

Exotic: Budgerigar, Macaw, Ostrich, Emu.

Primates

Endemic: Bonnet monkey (common Indian monkey), chimpanzee, Rhesus monkey.

Exotic: Olive baboon, Mandrill, Ring-tailed lemur (lemur catta), Goeldi's marmoset. Most Recent inclusion is the new primate species i.e.., three Chimpanzees which were brought from Tisch Zoo in Jerusalem under an agreement done by the Government of India with Israel's Nature Parks Authority.

Herbivores

Endemic: Barking deer, Elephant, Wild boar, Gaur, Sambar deer, Spotted deer, Nilgai, Swamp deer, Eld's deer (thamin deer), Indian rhinoceros.
Exotic: Hippopotamus and Giraffe.

Carnivores

Endemic: Tiger (Leucistic and Bengal), Leopard and Cheetah.
Exotic: Puma and Jaguar.

Lesser carnivores

Endemic: Jackal, Wild dog, Striped hyena, Rusty-spotted cat, Dhole, and Jungle cat.

Bears

Endemic: Sloth bear, Himalayan black bear.

Reptiles

Endemic: Python, Cobra, King cobra, Rat snake, Indian star tortoise, Tortoise, Terrapin, Water monitor lizard, Monitor lizard, Green iguana, Mugger crocodile and Gharial.

Along with this, Butterfly park and Nocturnal Animal House which has Owls, Porcupines, and Civets are special attraction.

References
  1. "Search Establishment". cza.nic.in. CZA. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  2. VR, Rohith (25 March 2016). "Top 10 Most Popular Zoos in India 2016".
  3. http://www.top10gallery.com/2012/02/top-10-largest-zoos-in-india-best-zoos.html
  4. "APForest dept". Archived from the original on 11 July 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2007.
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