Nestled amid the verdant surroundings of Chandaka Forest, Nandankanan Zoo is home to a number of uncommon animal species. Situated on the bank of the gorgeous Kanjia Lake, Nandankanan is made up of a zoo, a botanical garden, and a sanctuary.
ABOUT NANDANKANAN
Nandankanan is located next to Kanjia Lake in the Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary, amidst the natural beauty of her forest. This location is near the Baranga Railway Station on the Howrah-Chennai route and includes a section of the Jujhagarh and Krishnanagar Demarcated Protected Forests. According to Survey of India Toposheet No. 73 H/15-NW, it is situated geographically between 200 23′ 08′′ and 200 24′ 10′′ North latitude and 850 48′ 09′′ and 850 48′ 13′′ East longitude.
The mythological term “Nandankanan” itself describes the dreamlike yet ecstatic splendor of the celestial garden. It also identifies the truly exceptional locations on Earth that are exceptionally attractive, offering sweeping vistas of the natural world and the allure of the exterior morphology of plants and animals.
At Nandankanan, the zoo is enhanced by 101 enclosures and 202 sub-enclosures. The fact that there are both open moat enclosures and cages is significant. The captive animals at Nandankanan are housed in 47 open moated enclosures and 54 cages. It boasts an impressive 126 animal species, comprising 40 species of mammals, 56 species of birds, and 24 species of reptiles. Nandankanan is home to an enormous assortment of animals. Over 1580 creatures are present, comprising 634 mammals, 812 birds, and 134 reptiles. A total of eighty eight (88) native species and thirty-two (32) foreign types of animals enhance the Nandankanan Zoological Park’s collection. Within the collection of animals are 15 species of endangered mammals, 6 species of endangered birds, and 10spp of endangered reptiles listed in Schedule I of WPA, 1972.
With regard to the Patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas), Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximus), and Open-billed Stork (Anastomus oscitans), Nandankanan is the only zoo in India that can claim this distinction. With its Orang-Utans (the others are in Kanpur Zoological Park, Uttar Pradesh), Indian Pangolins (the others are in Jhargram Zoo, West Bengal), Spotted Munias (the others are in Sayajibaug Zoo, Gujurat), and Burmese Pythons (the others are in Culcatta Snake Park, West Bengal), it also holds the distinction of being one of only two zoos in India. It is one of the three zoos in India that is home to Nicobar pigeons, Cinereous Vultures, and Green-winged Macaws.
In 1980, Nandankanan established a special location for the productive captive breeding of Gharials, an endangered species. The world now recognizes Nandankanan as one of the main host zoos for white tigers due to the birth of white tigers from regular colored tigers. The other significant breeding success of Nandankanan includes Indian pangolin (1971), Mouse deer (1972), Malayan Giant squirrel (1974), Sloth bear (1978), Mugger (1982), Himalayan Black bear (1982), Lion-tailed Macaque (1983), Brow-antlered deer (1984), Salt water crocodile (1985), Indian porcupine (1986), White necked stork (1986), Caiman crocodile (1990), Water monitor lizard (1996), Swamp deer (1998), Chimpanzee (1999), Grey heron (2000) and Siamese crocodile (2010), ratel 2012and many free living animals including Open billed storks.
