Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, Zoo in Patna, India
The Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park is a zoo in Patna that covers around 62 hectares (153 acres) and houses more than 800 animals representing 110 species, including tigers, leopards, elephants and Indian rhinoceroses. The enclosures are designed to resemble the natural habitats of the animals and give visitors a sense of India's wilderness.
The site began in 1969 as a botanical garden with 14 hectares (34 acres) separated from the Governor House complex and opened to the public as a zoo in 1973. Over the decades additional land was added, allowing the park to reach its current size and become an important center for animal conservation in eastern India.
The park bears the name of a former prime minister and serves as a popular destination for school groups and families from across the region. Many visitors arrive on weekends to spend time in green surroundings and observe native animal species that have become rare in other parts of India.
The park offers toy trains, elephant rides, boat trips and an aquarium with 35 fish species, along with designated picnic areas for families. The site is best visited during the cooler morning hours or late afternoon when animals are more active and temperatures become more comfortable.
The zoo's one-horned rhinoceroses have bred successfully several times, and in 2008 the zoo earned acclaim for its breeding techniques. A leopardess named Reena gave birth to two cubs on 18 June 2001, the zoo's first successful leopard breeding in 16 years, and again to two cubs on 4 March 2002.
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