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Biological Park

Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park The Park was established first as a Botanical Garden in the year 1969. The then Governor of Bihar, Sri NityanandKanungo, provided almost 34 acres of land from the Governor House Campus for its creation. Later on, in 1972, PublicWorks Department contributed another 58.20 acres and Revenue Department transferred 60.75 acres land to theForest Department to help develop this park further.

Since 1973, this park has been developed as Biological Park. The land acquired from Public Works Dept. and theRevenue Dept. were declared as Protected Forest by the State Govt. on 8th March, 1983. The park is classified asone of the 21 large zoos in the country. Present Stock of Animals and Plants The Botanical part of the park has more than 300 species of trees, herbs and shrubs. It has a nursery of medicinalplants, an orchid house, a fern house, a glass house, a rose garden and a number of grass lawns.

The zoo has almost 100 species of animals. These include tiger, lion, leopard, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, Himalayanbear, lion tailed macaque, golden cat, leopard cat, hog deer, giraffe, zebra, crocodile, cassowary, emu, whitepeacock, etc. There are almost 1200 animals in the zoo.

This park has an aquarium and a snake house. The aquarium has about 35 species of fish. Snake House has 68snakes belonging to 7 species. National Zoo Policy The National Zoo Policy adopted in October 1998 highlights the need for adequate financial and technical resources foreffective functioning of the zoos across India. It lays emphasis on co-ordination between the zoos and eminent

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research/ education institutions on various aspects of zoo and animal management. The zoo policy also aims at givingproper direction and thrust to the management of the zoos. Success story of Rhinoceros breeding This is a matter of pride for the park that it houses the maximumnumber of one horn rhinoceros in captivity only after Saint Diegowild animal park, California, U.S.A. The first pair of rhinoceros was brought from Assam in 1979.One male rhinoceros was rescued from west Champaran in1982. The breeding could only start in 1988. Then the park neverlooked before. The park witnessed the birth of two calves in2011. At present the zoo houses 11 rhinoceros (5 males and 6females) of four different bloodlines. Special Features of the Zoo

The park is a favourite place for Patnaites. The park welcomes more than 18 Lakh visitors.

The park has more than 10,000 trees of almost 300 species.

The park has toy-train facility which covers 4.26 kms of length.

The park has developed a children park with facilities for children to play.

The park has a lake with boating facility.

The park has a unique tree house, a hut like structure on the top of a big rain tree.

The park gives more than 3.50 crores of revenue every year.

The park has acquired one pair of Asiatic lion, one pair of white royal Bengal tiger and a male Royal Bengaltiger from Nehru Zoological Park in August, 2011.

The park has acquired one pair of leopard cat from Sephahizala zoo, Tripura in March, 2012.

The park has acquired one pair of leopard, two female jungle cats and one male leopard cat from Assam statezoo, Guwahati in March, 2012.

The park has developed a state-of-the-art underground water pool enclosure for display of otter through glass.

The park witnessed the birth of first successful birth of baby giraffe on 21st May, 2011.

The park is pollution free zone as no vehicle is allowed inside. The park has the facility of battery operated golfcarts started only in 2011.

The park provides bicycles on rent to visit the entire zoo.

The Zoo Souvenir Shop was started in 2011.

New Initiatives

A major cleanliness drive has been undertaken forcleaning the animal enclosures by providing pressurecleaning machines.

The part of boundary wall, which was lower than thenorms, has been raised.

Three nos. of high rise fountains have been added in theold lake.

The scheme of adopting an animal has also beenlaunched and it has received wide support from public.

A major renovation work has been undertaken to repairand upgrade the abandoned structures, such as bear night house, hippopotamus cage, zoo boundary wall,night house in lion cage.

Otter cage and turtle cage have been upgraded to include through glass viewing facility.

Giraffe nursery has been added to the existing enclosure to facilitate giraffe breeding.

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The public amenities have been improved by adding 2 modern toilets, 5 drinking water units with cooler andpurifier, sitting benches etc.

Birth of Swamp deer, Black Buck, Swan, Hog Deer, Sambhar Deer, Hippopotamus, Giraffe has undertaken inthe park.

A new rock garden with waterfall has been developed as part of landscaping.

A new water fountain has been put into place near boating ghat.

Two borings with submersible pumps have been made to augment the water supply.

The rhinoceros enclosure has been expanded to house additional rhinoceros.

The scheme of battery operated golf carts has been launched on 24th June, 2011. A fleet of three golf carts isserving the visitors.

Management plan of the zoo has been submitted before the central zoo authority for sanction.

Proposals

A new 3-D wildlife movie theatre is to be constructed as part of interpretation centre.

Rhino range in approximately 10 acres of vegetated area is under consideration.

Modernization of aquarium is on the anvil.

A new lion enclosure is to be developed.

The process of formation of zoo authority to manage the affairs of the biological park is on.

For more details, please contact: Director, Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, Patna.Tel: (0612)-2217455.