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About
Collection
Location
Interesting incidents
Added attractions
| | About | | Nandankanan literally means the 'Garden of Pleasure' or 'Garden of Gods'. It is in Chandaka forest, 25-kms from Bhubaneswar and is famed for its white tiger population. It houses a variety of mammals, reptiles and various species of birds. The zoo enjoys an excellent reputation internationally, for successfully breeding black panthers and gharial crocodiles. | | | Collection | | Picturesquely carved out of the Chandaka forest, Nandankanan is a Biological Park where animals are kept in their natural habitat, where a centrally located lake divides the Zoo from the Botanical Gardens. Tigers, Lions, Clouded Leopards, Black Panthers, European Brown Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Gharials, Rosy Pelican, Grey Pelican, Indian Python, King Cobra, etc. are among the attractions. The exotic Botanical Garden on the other side of the zoo preserves varieties of indigenous plants. | | | Location | | 20 km from Bhubaneswar. | | | Interesting incidents | |
The zoo has created history in many ways…
In 1967, a wild female tiger approached Nandan Kanan, and scaling a high fence, she crept around until she found the tiger enclosure. She then climbed up a concrete wall, and leapt down into it, thus perhaps becoming the only wild animal in existence ever opted to join in a zoo. In commenting on this rare occasion, the National Geographic magazine pointed out that Orissa must be the only place in the world with enough sophistication to have a modern, well designed zoo, and enough tigers to stock it by voluntary membership!
Now, don’t you think its worth visiting this?
Nandan Kanan also has the distinction of the first captive-breeding center for gharial crocodiles, a task facilitated by the gift of an adult male by the Frankfurt Zoo.
The zoo has also given a new lease of life to one of the rarest creatures of the world - the white tiger, with important research and concerted efforts on to breed them in the natural environs of Nandan Kanan. This regal animal first came to here in 1980 when the first litters of white tigers were born to Deepak and Ganga, two normal tawny tigers. Subsequent litters of white tigers have been distributed to Zoos both in India as well as abroad. Currently Nandan Kanan has one of the largest collections in the world.
Endangered species such as the Asiatic Lion, three Indian crocodilians, sanghai, lion tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, Indian pangolin, mouse deer and countless birds, reptiles, and fish have been successfully breeding here. There is also a successful Black Panther breeding programme.
The 34 aquaria - home to a large variety of freshwater fish, and the Reptile Park - home to numerous species of crocodiles, lizards, turtles and snakes, is guarded by the image of a life sized Tyrannosaurus Rex, are perpetual crowd-pullers.
| | | Added attractions | | Safaris for viewing the white tigers and lions in the natural habitat in specially designed protected buses are added attractions. The rope-way connecting the Zoo with the Botanical Gardens over the lake, the boating facilities, the Lion Safari (a wide stretch of open ground infested with Lions where visitors get to see them in their natural habitat) and the toy train for children have added new feathers to Nandan Kanan's cap, making it a hot family favourite.
Nandan Kanan, with its Zoo, nature trails and facilities for amusement, is definitely a must see.
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