Zoological Park

Amidst the natural beauty of natural forest adjacent to Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary, Nandankanan lies in the vicinity of Kanjia lake. This site covers a portion of Krishnanagar and Jujhagarh Demarcated Protected Forests (DPF) and close to Baranga Railway station on Howrah-Chennai route. Geographically it is located between 200 23' 08" to 200 24' 10" North latitude and 850 48' 09" to 850 48' 13" East longitude (Survey of India Toposheet No. 73 H/15-NW).

The very name of “Nandankanan”, in mythology, delineates the ecstatic but imaginary beauty of the celestial garden. It also indicates the real beautiful spots par excellence on earth, where one can see the panoramic views of nature and appreciate the glamour that exists in the external morphology of plants and animals.

The zoo is enriched with 210 enclosures with at Nandankanan. It has the significance of having both the cages and open moat enclosures. There are 116 cages and 94 open moated enclosures to house all the captive animals of Nandankanan. It has the glory of having 156 species of animals which includes 41 spp. mammals, 83 spp. birds, 26 spp. reptiles and 6 spp. of amphibians. Nandankanan has huge number of animal collections. There are 3004 no animals, including 1175 mammals, 1546 birds, 262 reptiles and 21 amphibans. In these 156 species, 103 are indigenous and 53 are exotic.There are 15 spp of mammals, 120 spp of birds, 15 spp of reptiles, 85 spp of butterflies which are freely move inside the sanctuary.

Nandankanan is the only zoo in India with the credit of having Patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas), Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximus) and Open-billed Stork (Anastomus oscitans). Besides, it has the glory among the 2 zoos in India having Orang-Utan (others in Kanpur Zoological Park, Uttar Pradesh), Indian Pangolin (others in Jhargram Zoo, West Bengal), Spotted Munia (Others in Sayajibaug Zoo, Gujurat) and Burmese Python (others in Culcatta Snake Park, West Bengal). It is among the three zoos of India having Green-winged Macaws and Cinereous Vulture.

Nandankanan has created its unique place for successful captive breeding of endangered Gharials in 1980. Birth of white tiger from normal coloured tigers has given a special place to Nandankanan over the world as one of the major host zoo for the white tigers. The other significant breeding success of Nandankanan includes Indian pangolin (1971), Mouse deer (1972), Malayan Giant squirrel (1974), Sloth bear (1978), Mugger (1982), Himalayan Black bear (1982), Lion-tailed Macaque (1983), Brow-antlered deer (1984), Salt water crocodile (1985), Indian porcupine (1986), White necked stork (1986), Caiman crocodile (1990), Water monitor lizard (1996), Swamp deer (1998), Chimpanzee (1999), Grey heron (2000) and Siamese crocodile (2010), ratel 2012 and many free living animals including Open billed storks.

It is the host zoo for white tigers. White tigers were born to normal coloured parents in 1980, a unique event in the world. First zoo in the country where endangered Gharials were born in captivity in 1980.

A unique White tiger safari was established in the Zoological Park on 1st October 1991. It is the 1st White tiger safari in India. Wonderful site for wildlife conservation and education where one can experience integration of ex-situ and in-situ conservation of wild fauna and flora.