Nandankanan has a nocturnal house now

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 29:

An exclusive house for nocturnal animals was today inaugurated at the Nandankanan Zoological Park on the outskirts of the Odisha capital on the occasion of its 56^th foundation day.

A set of 13 enclosures housing 10 species of animals is known as the ‘nocturnal house’ and is the best and largest in the country.

“Today’s main attraction is the nocturnal house constructed here. It is the best in the country,” said Sudarshan Panda, director Nandankanan Zoological Park speaking to reporters.

There are plans for opening of a crocodile enclosure at the park and a carnivorous plant garden at the Botanical Gardens within the next one year.

“An enclosure for crocodiles will be established here. We have made arrangements to get caiman crocodile, a species of foreign origin from Chennai. We will be getting a giraffe from Kolkata Zoo. We have also conceived a plan for establishing a carnivorous plant garden at the Botanical Gardens here,” said Bikram Keshari Arukh, Minister Forest and Environment talking to reporters.

Arukh accompanied by the principal secretary Forest & Environment Suresh Chandra Mohapatra was here to inaugurate the nocturnal house at park.

Nandankanan Zoological Park currently houses 149 species of animals and birds totaling more than 2,500 by count.

Moreover, work has begun to make functional the ropeway and the toy train which have been out of order since 2013.

On the occasion of the 56^th foundation day of the park, some employees were rewarded for excellence in their work apart from release of the annual report of the park.