DNPWC constructing two zoological parks

BY A STAFF REPORTER Kathmandu, May 9: Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has been constructing two big Zoological Parks at two different parts of the country. 

Bhanu Zoological Park, the largest semi-open zoo in the country, is being constructed in Tanahun district, which covers areas at Ward No. 5 and 6 in Bhanu Municipality and Ward No. 11 and 12 in Vyas Municipality. 

Once completed, the park will spread across an area of 425 hectares in two municipalities. The master plan of Bhanu Zoological Park has sought final approval from the Ministry of Forests and Environment.   

Preparation process for Detail Project Report (DPR) has started and is awaiting cabinet decision for budget allocation, said Dil Bahadur Purja Pun, DNPWP information officer.  

The government has allocated Rs. 80 million in last fiscal year to prepare the master plan. It has decided to construct the park on May 1, 2017. 

To construct the second largest Zoological Park in Suryabinayak Municipality, a consultant has been hired to prepare the DPR report of semi-open zoo, which would spread across an area of 245 hectares of land covering seven community forests in Suryabinayak, Gundu, Sipadol and Katunje in addition to government-owned land.   

The office building of DNPWC has already been completed and work related to office and park started, and work on fencing in progress, he said. 

A Cabinet meeting held on February 12, 2015 had decided to construct the Zoological garden in Suryabinayak. A year after that decision, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had laid its foundation stone on June 23, 2016.    

“Our plan is to keep wild animals under good facility and bring other exotic wild animals. Taking utmost care of such animals is our first priority,” he said. 

Another plan is to keep more wild animals with the goal of providing opportunity to researchers, he added.