KATHMANDU, Jan 7: The central zoo in Jawlakhel, Kathmandu has recorded a drop in the number of rescued animals brought to this shelter of late.

The central zoo used to rescue around 1,000 animals from various parts of the country, mostly Kathmandu Valley, annually and most of the rescued animals such as cheetah, palm civet (nir biralo), fox, monkey and tortoise were kept at the zoo and were provided with the needed  medical help for an extended period of time.

Last year, the zoo, home to a total of 1,068 animals of 110 different species, rescued around 600 animals and treated them, informed Rachana Shah, manager of the zoo.

The decrease in the number is attributed to the increasing forest coverage in the country where they can inhabit safely and the rise in public awareness towards the wild animal which encourages protection of wildlife, argued manager Shah.

While some rescued animals recover, some die during the treatment. Those recovered are released into the wild as far as possible while some are sheltered in the zoo despite the lack of adequate space, according to Shah.

Shah shared that the zoo mostly rescues cheetah which are often injured in human-wildlife clashes.

Established in 1932 by the then Prime Minister Juddha Shumsher Rana, the zoo is currently managed by the National Trust for Nature Conservation.

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