The late Rana Prime Minister Juddha Shumser established the Jawlakhel Zoo as a private zoo enclosed in an area of six hectares in 1932. In December 1995, on the auspicious occasion of the golden jubilee birthday celebration of the late king Birendra , the Government of Nepal formally entrusted the overall management responsibility of the Central Zoo to the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC).[break]
“The zoo annually receives one million visitors and provides conservation education to students all over the Kathmandu Valley,” claims Arun Rana, Conservation Education Head. These visitors range from families to schoolchildren who come to look at the over 1,000 animals from 119 different species that the zoo houses.
Among the varied species are 33 mammals, 61 birds, eight reptiles, and 17 fishes. The country’s only zoo also has a vast range of endangered species, from swamp deer to one-horned rhinoceros. The zoo has also initiated an animal exchange program with some zoos abroad and has brought in a number of exotic wild life fauna such as siamang apes (Symphalangus syndactylus, large black gibbon of Sumatra), ostrich, and hippopotamus.
Apart from the host of animals it offers for viewing, the zoo also has different recreational activities such as boating, elephant rides, and fun rides for children and an aquarium section. Animal feeding program takes place twice a week where visitors get a chance to feed the tigers and elephants by purchasing the food from within the zoo premises.
Dibin Pokharel, a frequent visitor, says, “I like coming here once a week with my friends because of the peaceful environment of the area and the boat ride especially.”
The zoo makes a good dry picnic spot for families, but for those of you who want to avoid the hassle of cooking, the cafeteria within the zoo is there for your services. The zoo allows cameras within its premises.
Interested visitors can also get memberships known as “Friends of the Zoo” (FOZ) which is a public participatory and conservation awareness educational program specially designed for the school students.
“Every year, we organize various programs for FOZ members, such as essay writing competition, zoo night safari, educational tours, and quiz contests,” informs the Conservation Education Head of the zoo. FOZ members enjoy free entry to the zoo and 20% discount at the cafeteria and for boating and elephant rides.
Since June 2009, the zoo has been turned into a No Plastic Zone. Your visit will, therefore, not only be fun but also a socially responsible one.
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