"To promote, conserve and manage nature in all its diversity balancing human needs with the environment on a sustainable basis for posterity - ensuring maximum community participation with due cognizance of the linkages between economics, environment and ethics through a process in which people are both the principal actors and beneficiaries."
Central Zoo
Introduction
The Central Zoo is the only zoo in Nepal. It is located at Jawalakhel in the Kathmandu Valley .It was established in 1932 by the late Prime Minister Juddha Sumsher J.B. Rana as a private zoo. His Majesty's Government of Nepal opened the zoo to the public in 1956. On the auspicious occasion of the Golden Jubilee Birthday Celebration of Late Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, His Majesty's Government of Nepal entrusted the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation with the responsibility of managing the zoo in December 1995. KMTNC aims to develop the Central Zoo as a center for wildlife research and conservation education.
KMTNC has developed a master plan for the Central Zoo which has already received the endorsement of both the government and the Central Zoo Management and Development Committee. The Major thrust of the master plan is on three components physical improvement, animal collection and management and conservation education. Funding, assistance has been sought from various collaborating partners, organizations and donors to fully implement measures as envisaged in the master plan.
The Central Zoo covers an area of six hectares. It houses more than 900 animals of 123 different species. Among these 31 are mammals, 63 are birds, 9 are reptiles and 20 are fishes. The Central Zoo has 14 of the 38 endangered animals of Nepal. The . The Zoo is open six days a week and remains closed on Monday. This has been done to give the animals a rest and to allow the zoo staff to make improvements on enclosures that cannot be done when visitors are around.
Objectives
The King Mahendra Trust For Nature Conservation (KMTNC ) is developing the Central Zoo as a Center for Conservation Education and Wildlife Research in Nepal. Its major objectives are:
To improve and maintain animal health and care within the zoo philosophy.
To develop the central zoo as a centre for conservation education.
To raise public awareness about the importance of nature conservation .
Physical facilities in the Central Zoo
Information counter
Restaurant
Souvenir shop
Paddleboat and rafting
Picnic shed
Couple chairs
Children ground (swings, funny temple, merry-go-round, Uranus etc.)
Elephant ride
Visitor center (with audio visual facilities)
Library (books and audio visuals)
Aquarium (sub-tropical fishes)
Admission fees of the Central Zoo (Effective from 1 st September, 2001)
Adult (Nepali)
NRs. 25/-
Children (Nepali)
NRs. 10/-
Adult (Foreigner)
NRs. 100/-
Children (Foreigner)
NRs. 50/-
Adult (SAARC countries)
NRs. 40/-
Children (SAARC countries)
NRs. 30/-
Video Camera Film Shooting
NRs. 3,000/-
Feature Film Shooting
NRs. 6,000/-
Note
The Central Zoo is closed every Monday for visitors.
The Fishing Programme at the pond of the Central Zoo has been opened from 1 st Chaitra, 2058. This rogramme will run until 30 th Kartik, 2059 regularly on every Monday.
Use of Plastic Bags is prohibited inside the zoo premises
