8-Feb-2023: Rajasthan Government has proposed to construct a zoo inside Keoladeo National Park

The Rajasthan Government has proposed to construct a zoo inside Keoladeo National Park, a World Heritage Site popularly known as Bharatpur bird sanctuary, to display a range of wetland species.

In an effort to rejuvenate the biodiversity of the park and boost its outstanding universal values, the Rajasthan Government has proposed the construction of Wetland ex-situ Conservation Establishment (WESCE), which will be a zoo to display a range of wetland species, including rhinos, water buffaloes, crocodiles, dolphins, and exotic species. The WESCE plan is part of the ambitious Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Development Project, which is funded by Agence Française de Développement.

Facilities planned:

• Breeding and reintroduction center for locally extinct species
• Aquarium for indigenous species
• Enclosures for display of large wetland species

Keoladeo National Park: Keoladeo National Park is a wetland and bird sanctuary located in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the first Ramsar site of India(1981) along with Chilika Lake (Odisha). The park is known for its rich avian diversity and abundance of waterbirds, with over 365 species of birds, including several rare and threatened species such as the Siberian crane. It is also part of Montreux record along with Loktak Lake.

Flora & Fauna: The park is home to animals such as jackals, sambar, nilgai, wild cats, hyenas, wild boar, porcupine, and mongoose. The principal vegetation types are tropical dry deciduous forest dominated by Acacia nilotica and dry grassland. The Gambhir and Banganga are two rivers that flow through the national park.