Nandankanan records more births than deaths in last 5 yrs: Odisha Minister

Bhubaneswar: Nandankanan Zoological Park, located on the city outskirts, has witnessed more number of births than deaths during the last five years.

A total of 355 wild animals died in the zoo during the last five years, with highest 98 deaths recorded in 2019-20, informed Forest and Environment Minster Bikram Keshari Arukha.

Replying to an unstarred question in the state Assembly today, the Minister said 355 wild animals, mostly mammals have died in Nandankanan during the last five years. While highest 98 deaths was recorded in the zoo in 2019-20, lowest 49 reported in 2016-17. Besides, 165 birds of different species died in the zoo during the period.

Regarding birth of wild animals, Arukha informed as many as 1,392 wild animals were born in the zoological park during the lasy five years. Highest 342 wild animals were born in 2017-18. This year, 273 wild animals have taken birth in the zoo so far.

If compared, the birth rate of wild animals in the zoo is much higher than their death rate during the past five years, he stated.

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He further informed that eight Yellow Anacondas and three Nile Crocodiles were brought from Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology (MCBT), Mahabaliuram in Tamil Nadu in October 2019 under the animal exchange programme.

Besides, four male Asiatic lions were brought from Kanan Pendari Zoo Park in Chhattisgarh on March 17,2020, while another two Asiatic lioness were brought from Indore Zoo in December , 2020