Nandankanan Zoological Park, Zoo and botanical garden in Barang, India
Nandankanan Zoological Park is a zoo and botanical garden in Barang, India, covering 437 hectares that include Kanjia Lake and parts of Chandaka forest. The facility combines natural habitats with designed areas where visitors can observe animals from different climates, including reptiles, mammals, and numerous bird species.
The zoo opened in 1960 after a successful wildlife display at the World Agricultural Fair in Delhi led to the creation of a permanent facility. Over the decades, the park grew from a small collection into one of India's largest zoological facilities with a special focus on endangered native species.
The name Nandankanan means Garden of Heaven. The zoo opened to the public in 1979, and in 2009 it became the first zoo in India to join the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Its reptile house has a cave-like entrance guarded by a life-size replica of a Tyrannosaurus rex.
The park opens daily except Mondays, with the best visiting times being early morning or late afternoon when animals are more active. The grounds are extensive and require several hours to explore, so visitors should wear comfortable shoes and bring enough water.
The zoo's reptile house has a cave-like entrance guarded by a life-size replica of a Tyrannosaurus rex. In 2008–09 the animal death rate was 3.1% per year, against an Indian average of 10%.
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