Source::RSS
RSS
KATHMANDU
It is yet to be decided when the Sadar Zoo in Jawalakhel, which has been closed since last April, will be reopened. Although the zoo management is preparing to open after the festival after fulfilling the health criteria, it is not certain when it will open due to a lack of a decision from the Covid-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC).
The zoo was completely closed for observation from April 22 due to Covid-19 spread all over the world. Dr. Chiranjeevi Prasad Pokharel, Chief of Zoo Management, said that there was confusion over the decision to reopen the zoo as it was closed for a long time due to problems in feeding the animals and managing the staff.
"Coronavirus infection has not abated. Criteria are also being prepared for that, ”said Pokharel. Criteria have been set such that masks must be brought in, only 800 people can be seen at a time, people cannot be allowed to sit inside the zoo to eat and feed animals, one person can only stay for an hour and a half, and children cannot be allowed to play.
Even though the criteria has been prepared for the observation every day from 10 am to 5 pm, only a limited number of people have been admitted at a time. At present, there are 1,068 animals of 110 species in the zoo. The main attractions here are tigers, bears, leopards, red pandas, etc. Among them are 33 mammals, 61 birds, eight amphibians and 17 species of fish. The zoo has conserved 15 of the 38 endangered wildlife species listed as endangered in Nepal.
There is a fee of Rs 750 for foreigners, Rs 500 for guests from SAARC countries, Rs 150 for Nepalis and Rs 90 for Nepali students and senior citizens. The annual turnover of Rs.
The zoo, which has been managing the staff and feeding the animals from the fees received from the visitors, has been facing problems in managing the expenses for the past eight months. Corona had 80 employees before the shutdown. It is said that 20 employees have been cut due to management problems. There will be more problems if it is not brought into operation immediately.
Lack of rescue center
There is a lack of a rescue centers in Sadar Zoo to bring various animals in the first phase. Since wild animals come to human settlements from time to time and cause problems, they have to be managed. In this way, in the first stage, it is difficult to keep the animal that comes to the human settlement and mix it with other animals kept in the zoo. He should be kept under special supervision for long-term health check-up, but the zoo lacks this space.
"Every year 10/15 animals should be protected here. It is not possible to keep the protected animals for observation for six months to a year. They should be kept under the supervision of a veterinarian but there is a lack of space," said Chief Manager Dr. Pokharel.
Added scarecrow
A pair of scarecrows have been added to the zoo over the past eight years. The scarecrow brought from Jumla has been kept in the conservation room for observation. There are more bird species than any other species.
It was established in 1932 by the then Rana Prime Minister Shri 3 Juddhashamsher Jung Bahadur Rana as a private zoo. The zoo, which was opened to the public in 2011, has been handed over to the National Nature Conservation Fund by the Government of Nepal for 30 years.
ALSO READ
