Orissa Review * June - 2005

Nandankanan : Poetry in Invisible Scripts of Nature Prabhukalyan Mohapatra

'If Konark is poetry in stone, then Nandankanan endangered species in the wild such as Gharials. is poetry in natural script of Nature', observed In its pursuit to achieve the above objectives the Mr. R.K. Tripathy, Hon'ble Justice of Gujarat High zoological park has been exchanging various wild Court. Similar is the opinion of Mata Prasad, a creatures, rescued or bred under captivity to other former member of Union Public Service registered zoos and institutions within and Commission, who remarked that 'Nandankanan abroad in exchange of similar endangered species. is a place which must be visited by anyone who Above all Nandankanan has also the distinction visits Orissa'. These are very few commendations of releasing Cheetal, Black Buck and crocodiles of large number of dignitaries who visited and bred in protected areas of the state. spoke high of this world famous Zoological Park. Lion safari, Tiger safari, Deer safari, Aerial Nandankanan Zoological Park, one of the Ropeway, Reptile Park, Noctural House, major tourist attractions of Orissa has the Aquarium, Toy Train, Boating, Elephant Ride, distinction of being the host zoo in the world for Library and Film Shows are some of the special captive breeding of white tiger out of normal features of Nandankanan which attracts about 10 coloured parents of Rewa origin. Internationally to 12 lakh visitors every year. Three number of acclaimed for its highest collection of white tigers, battery operated vehicles have been put to service Nandankanan is also the first ever captive for safaris. These pollutant free and noiseless breeding centre of endangered species creating vehicles, purchased from BHEL, Bhopal and empathy towards wild-life. The unique natural formally operated on December 29, 2001, in its ambience of Nandankanan with wide variety of 41st foundation day, are immensely appreciated animals also boasts of having rehabilitation of by visitors. problematic wild animals. It also acts as a rescue Situated along the Kolkata-Chennai railway centre for abandoned, injured and in-capacitated line near Barang Railway Station Nandankanan animals. Zoological park was established on December This zoo aims to conserve and breed 27, 1960. It is only 2 km away from Barang different species particularly those endangered for Railway Station, 17 km from Cuttack and 20 km conservation of bio-diversity. The effort includes from capital city of by road. animal exchange with other zoological park to Krishnanagar and Jujhagarh protected forest maintain diversity, rehabilitation of suitable blocks alongwith Kanjia lake, some government

26 Orissa Review * June - 2005 waste land and private lands over 437 hectres tiger safari which is one of its kind in the world. A were notified as Nandankanan sanctuary by the visitor who has enjoyed the sight of a white tiger Government of Orissa in 1979. Within its on its prawl will never forget the moment and perimeters the zoological park covers 362 hectres cherish it lifelong. Now, Nandankanan has 13 of undulating forest areas, natural waste-land and white tigers out of which five are conditioned for Kanjia lake which itself covers 66 hectres. releasing to its white tiger safari. Nandankanan Zoological Park, declared as Gharial polythene (plastic) free zone by State Pollution Control Board of Orissa from 01.01.2002, houses The first ever successful captive breeding 46 species of mammals, 59 species of birds and of Gharial in an artificially constructed water tank 21 species of reptiles. While the first incidence of had occurred at Nandankanan in the year 1980. spotted bill hatching in captive condition took The captive male was brought from Frankfurt Zoo, place at Nandankanan on 5.6.2001, the first Germany via Hyderabad for captive breeding with successful captive breeding of sloath bear was Indian crocodiles under UNDP programme. The observed on 23.10.2001 and the mouse-deer lone male Gharial has successfully bred in captivity bred in captivity in August 2003. One may like till 1999. He was named 'Bajrabahu' because of the details of some special species like white tigers, its huge size. But due to severe stress during super gharial etc. cyclone it died in 2000. It was only in the year 2002 one of the offsprings of 'Bajrabahu' was White Tiger conspicuously developed secondary sexual The first white tiger 'Diana' brought from characters of a male crocodile i.e. Gharial. And it National Zoological Park, Delhi to Nandankanan was in April 2003, this male captive crocodile in the year 1978 was renamed as 'Subhra'. fathered youngs who came out from two clutches. However, Nandankanan has its own lineage of This is the first instance of successful captive white tiger which incidentally resulted in birth of breeding by a captive bred male crocodile in the three white tiger cubs in 1980, born to both whole world. This has also helped in clarifying a normal coloured parents. The white tiger is a viable population in perpetuity. Nearly 500 mutantant form of normal coloured Royal Bengal captive bred young Gharials were released to Tiger. Because of its colour pattern abberations, river system from Nandankanan Zoo this white tiger was liked by one and all, over a period of 15 years. furthermore the media hype ensured visitors Nandankanan enjoys a special place in the satisfaction. Consequently a global demand for hearts of visitors and wild life lovers all over the white tiger was generated in all the zoos of different world. countries of the world. Nandankanan Zoological Park had also sustained a planned breeding programme for white tigers. The captive breed of Nandankanan has been sent to many zoos inside the country and abroad. Due to adequate stock Prabhukalyan Mohapatra lives at VR-3/2, Unit-3, behind of white tigers, Nandankanan has operated a white Reserve Bank of India Building, Bhubaneswar

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