Latest news with #NZP
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Nehru Zoo Park to acquire 250+ species, including cheetahs
Hyderabad: A host of new animals are on their way to the Nehru Zoological Park, including several exotic species, according to the Director of NZP, Sunil S Hiremath. Notably, zoo authorities have revealed plans to introduce three cheetahs as part of this expansion. The zoo currently houses 195 species, but the director states that the aim is to increase this number to over 250 within a few months. "Our goal is to create an environment within the zoo where every animal feels safe and comfortable enough to breed. We are already achieving this with several endangered species such as the one-horned rhinoceros — of which the zoo has five — and the Royal Bengal Tiger, with 28 currently in our care," the director said. "We want to continue expanding our collection and acquire animals that will be of interest to visitors. " The zoo has been actively expanding its animal population since the beginning of the year. In April, it received an Indian gazelle, a swamp deer, cheer pheasants, and Siamese crocodiles through exchange programmes with various zoos across the country. Two serval cats were also put on display this past Sunday. According to zoo officials, the first new arrival expected is a wallaby, which is set to reach the zoo within two months, having been procured from a private vendor. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Search For Direct Scaffolding Deals Direct Scaffolding Deals | Search Ads Learn More Undo Plans are also in place to expand the primate section, with efforts underway to bring in gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons, hoolock gibbons, and white-handed gibbons, all classified as endangered. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad To acquire white lions too Additionally, the zoo is working to acquire three to five white lions from a zoo in Europe, as well as zebras, lemurs, and slender lorises. The director said a verbal agreement had been reached to acquire cheetahs from a zoo in Asia in exchange for a one-horned rhinoceros, but it may take some time. "The deal is still in its preliminary stages. So far, discussions have only taken place via a third party, but I am pushing for a direct meeting soon. The enclosure and all facilities to accommodate the cheetahs are in place, we just need to bring them here," he added. If the deal is finalised, Nehru Zoological Park will become only the second zoo in the country, after the Mysore Zoo, to house cheetahs.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Hyderabad zoo welcomes 2 exotic Serval cats
HYDERABAD: The Nehru Zoological Park , Hyderabad, has expanded its collection of exotic animals with the release of a pair of Serval cats into the enclosure for public display on Sunday. This new exotic species, both two years old, is endemic to the African continent and can live up to 16 years in captivity. The zoo now has 195 species in its collection. Apart from this, principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force, C Suvarna and NZP director, Sunil S Hiremath, launched a plantation programme under Vana Mahotsavam celebrations 2025. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
No more murky water: Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad goes hi-tech to save animals
Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad is revamping its animal enclosures by replacing water moats with dry moats and glass panels to combat health issues caused by polluted water from Mir Alam tank By: HYDERABAD: In a major revamp aimed at safeguarding animal health, Nehru Zoological Park (NZP) will replace its traditional water moats with mud-filled dry moats and glass viewing panels. The revamp will begin with the tiger enclosure in the next couple of months. The reason? To eliminate the long-standing threat posed by polluted water from the adjacent Mir Alam tank. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad 'Water from the tank has previously caused health issues for animals and administrative challenges for us. By removing it altogether, we no longer have to worry,' said NZP director Sunil S Hiremath. The contaminated water, which flows through the zoo via underground channels, has been linked to several animal deaths. Between 2018 and 2019, 58 animals reportedly died due to liver cirrhosis believed tobe caused by polluted water. Another study in 2022 by BITS Pilani (Hyderabad campus) found dissolved oxygen levels in the tank at just 3.4 mg/l — far below the UNEP-recommended 10 mg/l. 'Residential and industrial waste from nearby areas is constantly dumped into the lake. Encroachments are increasing and the lake's area has shrunk from 650 to under 300 acres. Despite big-ticket govt announcements, no real clean-up has happened,' said Ishtiyaq Sharif, co-convener of Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL). Veterinary officials have warned of long-term damage to animals' kidneys due to exposure to water contaminated with heavy metals and bacteria. 'We are planning to install a sewage treatment plant near the tank soon,' said MA Hakim, deputy director, veterinary wing. Immersive experience The redesign will also help reduce zoo maintenance costs, which currently run over Rs 1 crore per enclosure annually due to high water use. Zoo officials said the new layout will not only be cost-effective but also enhance the visitor experience. 'The dry moats will give animals more space and visitors a closer, immersive view,' said Deepak Tarun, an educator at the zoo. How's zoo dealing with contamination? To tackle water contamination, Nehru Zoo now relies on borewells and regular water testing. Drinking water is supplied by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, while 32 borewells, each 3.5 inches wide, meet trench and enclosure needs. These deep borewells, in use for ?ve years, replaced earlier dependence on tank water. 'We send water samples to Veterinary Biological Research Institute every time and ?ll trenches only after getting clearance,' said zoo director Sunil S Hiremath. Desilting is done monthly, and biannual advisory meetings are held to monitor pollution. 'Despite precautions, seepage or tank over?ow during monsoons can lead to contamination,' said zoo biologist Laxmi Narayana, warning that animal exposure risks persist, especially during rains.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Hyderabad: Nehru Zoological Park (NZP) to launch night safari featuring nocturnal species; increase workforce by at least 30%
By Siddanth Nair HYDERABAD: The Nehru Zoological Park (NZP), which already hosts five animal safaris, is gearing up to launch night safari. This move follows an April 4 directive from the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI), which lifted the earlier ban on night safaris in zoos. "The plan is still in its preliminary stages. Organising a night safari is a big project that will take time and effort," NZP director Sunil S Hiremath told TOI. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The safari, expected to be operational within a year, will feature only nocturnal species such as owls, reptiles, wild cats, canids, civets, bats, and flightless birds, in line with the directive. While NZP already has the infrastructure to support the initiative, manpower remains a concern. "I anticipate we will need to increase our workforce by at least 30%," Hiremath said. The night safari is likely to run between 6pm and 11pm daily, except Mondays. Entry fares will be higher than the standard Rs 100 ticket. However, zoo-goers who visit during the day will have the option of re-entry for the night safari.
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Some have habit of creating doubts': Minister Bhupender Yadav rebuts Jairam Ramesh on Delhi Zoo privatization concerns
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav Saturday rebutted questions and privatization concerns raised by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh regarding the Delhi Zoo and an agreement proposed between the Centre-run establishment and Reliance-run Greens Zoological, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC). In a post on social media platform X, Yadav said that the National Zoological Park (NZP), which is run by the Centre, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GZRRC, based in Gujarat's Jamnagar, in January 2021, and NZP has sought to revise the existing MoU. He said NZP has signed MoUs with different organisations working in wildlife management in the past as part of its modernisation drive and will continue to do so. Replying to Ramesh's post, Yadav said, 'Some people have made it a habit to create doubts in the mind of the public at every instance.' Ramesh had said on June 4 that while the government 'claims that this is not a management transfer, its past record does not inspire confidence. Is this the first step towards handing over the zoo to a private enterprise?' Yadav said that the 2021 MoU between NZP and GZRRC focused on the exchange of animals, capacity building, animal keepers, technical exchanges on the scientific management of animals, and sharing knowledge on conservation breeding and education. 'Keeping in line with the common objectives of captive wildlife management and for further broadening the collaboration as per current management requirements, NZP sought to revise the existing MoU with GZRRC. The proposed MoU aims to foster collaboration in wildlife conservation, rescue, rehabilitation, animal health, and welfare,' Yadav said. The key areas of cooperation, he added, include support for veterinary care, enclosure design, enrichment, staff training, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and potential animal exchanges. Yadav added in his post that GZRRC has developed state-of-the-art facilities and services in animal health and welfare, world-class zoo designing, rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals, and habitat enrichment. NZP, he said, being a 60-year-old institution, has gained substantial expertise in breeding and care of many endangered species and is aiming to modernise its facilities and services by adopting best practices in animal welfare in captivity, as well as enhanced visitor experience, on par with a world-class zoo. The Central Zoo Authority granted approval to GZRCC in February 2019, and an initial recognition was granted in August 2020. As per its latest available annual report, GZRRC is home to 10,360 animals of 345 species. Most animals housed at GZRRC are 'part of its initiative to rescue captive animals from impoverished conditions in zoos and facilities in the nature of zoos, to decongest them and provide welfare to animals that were housed under sub-optimal conditions,' the annual report states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited and inaugurated Vantara, the rescue facility at Jamnagar, on March 4 this year.
