Nainital Zoo
(Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoo)
Nainital Zoo or Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoo is a high altitude zoo situated in Nainital, Uttarakhand. Established in 1984 and opened to public in 1995, it is situated on the Sher Ka Danda hill at a height of 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) above sea-level and is spread over 4.6 hectares (11 acres). It is the only High Altitude Zoo in north India, besides those in Darjeeling and Sikkim. Over the years it has become a popular tourist attraction
The zoo was established in 1984, though it was opened to visitors on 1 June 1995. The Naintal Zoo was home to India’s only Siberian tiger from 2001 until its death in November 2011. The tiger, named Kunal, was half of a pair of tigers brought from Darjeeling in 1997. His older brother, named Mahesh, died in 2001.
The zoo has several endangered species of animals in the Himalayas, and animals like Royal Bengal tiger, Tibetan wolves, sambar, leopard cat and Himalayan bear. It also has a vast collection of high altitude birds, like kalij pheasant, Lady Amherst pheasant, rose ringed parakeet, golden pheasant and red junglefowl.
The zoo has night shelters for the animals, and curtains are put up in the bird enclosures during the winter months. The zoo is situated at the elevation ranging from 2,100 to 2,150 metres (6,890 to 7,050 ft) above sea level between Shivalik and middle Himalayas mountain range. It has a forest cover of evergreen oak, cupressus, and two other species of oak.
How To Reach Nainital Zoo
The zoo is located about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) uphill from Tallital Bus station in Nainital. There is a steep motorable road leading to the zoo, though many tourist walk up the hill. Zoo opens from Tuesday to Sunday, 09.30 am – 4.30 p.m. (Monday Closed)
Zoo Rules
Visitors are requested through signages and publication materials to follow following rules:
- Do not feed animals. It may spoil their health.
- Teasing, disturbing animals by any manner is prohibited and Punishable under law.
- Keep the zoo premises clean, use dust-bins.
- Keep safe distance from Zoo animals.
- Carrying edible materials in the Zoo Premises is prohibited.
- Carrying Radio, Taps, Loudspeakers, Weapons or arms is prohibited.
The active contribution and Participation of visitors in Wildlife conservation is expected and appreciated. Vandalism is prohibited.
Zoo Fees
Adult
Rs. 100/- each
Child (5 to 12 Year)
Rs. 50/- each
Adult Foreigner
Rs. 200/- each
Child Foreigner
Rs. 100/- each
50% discount for senior citizen, especially abled and school student (Group only). Students get free entry on World Environment Day, Zoo Foundation Day, Ozone Day and during Wild Life Week.
Outreach Programme
Nainital Zoo organizes various outreach programmes involving children, students, local peoples and visitors to create awareness towards wildlife conservation on different forest and wildlife occasions. The programmes organized on these occasions are as follows:
– World Environment Day on 5th June
– Ozone Layer Conserva tion Day on 16th September
– Wild Life Week during 1st to 7th October
Various activities like Zoo Visit, Quizzing, Painting and Debate Competition etc. are organized for the students. The winners are honored and given prizes by a dignitary. These outreach programmes help in sensitizing the students as well as the visitors towards environment, forest and wildlife conservation issues.
Credit : www.nainitalzoo.org.in
