Central Zoo fostering conservation, education and animal rescue

By Erisha Sharma,Lalitpur, July 5: The Cental Zoo in Jawalakhel in Lalitpur draws a large number of visitors. Everyone, who arrives in Kathmandu for the first time from other districts, puts the zoo in the list of their must-visit place, while students studying in Kathmandu-based schools love to frequent it.  

“Apart from being a source of entertainment, the Central Zoo is a strong pillar for conservation education and wildlife rescue,” said Ganesh Koirala, Information Officer at the Central Zoo, Jawalakhel.

Home to 117 species and 1,350 animals, the National Zoo in is obviously an attraction for many. 

The private property of Rana Prime Minister Juddha Shumsher was handed to the non-profit organisation, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), in 1995 to open the zoo to the public. Since then, the zoo has been rescuing animals, promoting breeding, and providing practical knowledge and study opportunities for students.

According to the zoo officials, most of the animals are rescued. After healing, many are released into conservation areas like Chitwan National Park. However, some animals that cannot fully recover and are dependent on humans for survival are conserved inside the zoo.  The zoo offers an opportunity for many students to study wildlife.

From the revenue collected from millions of visitors annually, and thousands of visitors daily, the zoo supplies complete nutrition, regular cleaning, and veterinary check-ups to all the animals. Along with this, the zoo has shown efforts to enhance the environment to be greener and more natural.

“People often compare this Central Zoo with other foreign zoos. However, we should learn to appreciate what we have. Although this zoo is small and, in the near future, it might be difficult to maintain the number of animals, if we do not plan to relocate the whole zoo. Instead, we plan either to limit the number of animals or fund an open zoo. However, no decision has been considered at the moment,” said Ganesh Koirala.

A few years ago, preparation was made to relocate the zoo in Suryabinyak in Bhaktapur, but the plan stalled because of objections from locals in Bhaktapur. 

The Central Zoo in Jawalakhel has launched a new fun park for children under 12, thoughtfully designed to minimize noise and ensure the well-being of its animal residents.

The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) has also collaborated with around 200 schools and has built almost 5,000 student members of the Friends of Zoo (FOZ) club, who actively volunteer in the zoo. 

They engage in bird identification, waste management, interactive camps, animal feeding, educational competitions, and night tours. The “Beat the Waste” initiative enforces plastic ban, promotes composting, and helps schools adopt 3Rs of waste management.

(Sharma is an intern at The Rising Nepal.)