Uniqueness of Zoo

  • Host zoo for white tigers. White tigers born to normal coloured parents in the year 1980.
  • First captive breeding centre for endangered Gharials in the year 1980.
  • Kanjia Lake – A wetland of National importance (2006).
  • Conservation Breeding Centres for Indian Pangolin and Long billed vultures.
  • Largest pools for housing Gharials and Hippopotamus.
  • Second largest heronry for open billed storks (more than 9,000) in Odisha during last year (2018).
  • Situated inside a natural forest of semi-ever green and moist deciduous nature (725 spp. of plants).
  • Only zoo having Captive Fodder farm (over 33 Acs.) & Slaughter house
  • First record of breeding of Indian Ratels in captivity (in 2012).
  • First zoo in the country to become member of World Association of Zoos & Aquarium (WAZA).
  • Only zoo in India after which an express train (Nandankanan Express) has been named by Indian Railways.
  • Wonderful site for wildlife conservation and education – integration of ex-situ and in-situ conservation (free living birds - 120 spp.; reptiles – 15 spp. mammals – 13, butterflies – 85 spp., fish – 46 spp. & prawn – 3 spp.).
  • The Postal Department released special cover on Nandankanan.
  • One among the three zoos in India for breeding Long billed vulture.
  • First birth of Melanistic tiger in captivity in the year 2014.
  • Nandankanan has been recognized by Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for Conservation breeding of tigers, Indian pangolins and long billed vultures.