KATHMANDU, Nov 15: As part of setting up new central zoo in Suryabinayak of Bhaktapur district, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has completed about 20 percent of the fencing work around the designated areas so far.
The designated areas of the proposed central zoo spreads across 245 hectares in Suryabinayak VDC and Anantalingeshwar Municipality. Work on the new central zoo began after the government allocated budget for the project during this fiscal year 2016/017, according to Narayan Rupakheti, information officer at DNPWC, a division under the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation.
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“The government has allocated Rs 40 million for setting up the new central zoo in Suryabinayak. The zoo will be ready in about 5-10 years. Likewise, we also have budget of Rs 10 million for the construction of the zoo's office building,” said Rupakheti, adding that the new zoo can act as rescue center for wildlife and also a recreational center.
According to him, the current zoo in Jawalakhel would be a part of Suryabinayak's central zoo once it is completed. “The zoo in Jawalakhel will remain as it is, but it will no longer be the country's central zoo. Wildlife for the new zoo would be supplied from the Jawalakhel zoo and from various districts.”
The six hectare area of Jawalakhel is considered to be too congested for habitation and breeding of larger animals, according to DNPWC.
As per the government's plan to set up zoos in each of the seven provinces, feasibility studies are being carried out in three of the provinces - Pokhara, Butawal, and Dhanushadham of Janakpur. Rupakheti, who is also a management officer at DNPWC, said the government has provided Rs 3 million for conducting the feasibility studies.
