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KATHMANDU, June 17: The number of visitors to the Central Zoo located in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, has significantly increased in recent days.
The increase in visitors began after the zoo started allowing entry until 7 pm from Baisakh 1 (April 14, 2025). Previously, the zoo was open only from 10 am to 5 pm, but with the new arrangement, evening hours have been extended so visitors can now come until 7 pm, the zoo management said.
Since the new timing was implemented, from April 28 to May 29, 2025, a total of 99,219 people have visited the zoo. Before this service started, from April 27 to May 28, 2024, only 84,336 people had visited, said Satya Narayan Shah, the chief of the zoo.
Compared to the previous period, there has been an increase of 14,883 visitors, which has generated approximately Rs 2.5 million more revenue for the zoo, he said. The revenue collected from entry fees is used by the zoo to pay staff salaries and provide food for the animals, as well as for overall management.
Animals at Jawalakhel zoo miss humans, others enjoy the peace
Currently, the zoo charges the following entry fees: Rs 200 for Nepali adult citizens, Rs 135 for students, Rs 100 for senior citizens, Rs 75 for children, Rs 500 for citizens of SAARC countries, and Rs 1,000 for foreign nationals. The zoo currently employs 70 staff members, and on average, about 2,000 people visit daily.
Additionally, to attract more visitors, the zoo has improved the proper management of wildlife, promoted greenery, and increased cleanliness.
The only rare red panda in the zoo died a few days ago. According to chief Shah, the red panda died on June 14 due to kidney failure. The red panda, brought to the zoo in 2072 BS, had been a major attraction for visitors. However, the zoo management has already initiated the process to bring a pair of red pandas from Gaurishankar Conservation Area, Langtang National Park, and Ilam region.
Similarly, the zoo, which previously had only one rhinoceros, added a pair of rhinos brought from Chitwan on June 5, marking World Environment Day. The addition of these rhinos was made through the initiative of the Ministry of Forests and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. The zoo houses a variety of large wildlife including elephants, tigers, rhinos, bears, gharial crocodiles, chimpanzees, hippopotamuses, as well as rare species.
Currently, there are five adult Bengal tigers in the zoo. Due to a shortage of enclosures, managing these tigers has been challenging. The management keeps two pairs of tigers in different locations on a rotational basis for public viewing, while the remaining one tiger is kept in a holding area due to the lack of proper enclosure. Since keeping two male tigers together poses the risk of fighting to the death, only paired tigers are housed together.
The Central Zoo, originally established as a private facility by then Rana Prime Minister Juddha Shamsher in 1989 BS, was opened to the general public only from 2011 BS. Since 2052 BS, the National Trust for Nature Conservation has been managing the Central Zoo located in Jawalakhel. After the initial 30-year period ended, the Ministry of Forests recently entrusted the Trust with the responsibility to manage the zoo for an additional 30 years.
Spanning an area of about 6 hectares, the zoo currently houses around 1,300 wild animals and birds belonging to 117 species.
