Central Zoo

Central Zoo
Pond inside Central Zoo, Nepal
Interactive map of Central Zoo
27°40′23″N 85°18′39″E / 27.6731849°N 85.3109334°E / 27.6731849; 85.3109334
Date opened
  • 1932 (private zoo)
  • 1956 (opened to public)[1]
LocationJawalakhel, Lalitpur, Nepal
Land area6 ha
No. of animals1292[3]
No. of species109[2]
Annual visitors1,000,000[2]
WebsiteCentral Zoo NTNC

The Central Zoo (Nepali: सदर चिडियाखाना) is a 6-hectare (15-acre) zoo in Jawalakhel, Nepal. It is home to some 969 animals in 109 species, and is operated by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). Although it was originally a private zoo, it was opened to the public in 1956.

During the Bhoto Jatra festival, celebrated near the zoo, the zoo may see upwards of 34,000 visitors in a single day after they come to see a historical jeweled vest at the culmination of the Rato Machchhindranath Jatra.[4][5]

History

The Central Zoo was established in 1932 by Rana Prime Minister Juddha Shumser as a private zoo; it came under government control in 1950.[6] It was built under the engineering and project management of General Maheshwar Shamshere Rana (PM Juddha Shamshere's grandson) and his handpicked skilled and unskilled workforce. It was opened to the public in 1956,[1] and in December 1995, the government handed over responsibility of the zoo to the National Trust for Nature Conservation.[2] Although work is not complete, the NTNC has been upgrading the facilities so that animals can live in larger enclosures that simulate their natural environment. It is also working towards turning the zoo into a research and educational facility, as well as remaining a tourist attraction.[1]

The central pond at the zoo is older than the zoo itself. It was built in the seventeenth century during the rule of King Siddhi Narsingh Malla, and at one time was the source of water for Patan.[4]

Animals

The zoo is home to about 870 animals in 109 species,[2] including 15 of 38 endangered local species including Royal Bengal tigers and one-horned rhinoceros, as well as many animals from around the world including hippos, siamang, ostriches, chimpanzee, lemur, and many birds.[4][6] It also has an aquarium for subtropical fish.[2]

Mammals

Mammals at the zoo include:[7]

Species Scientific name Ref(s)
Proboscidea species
Asian elephant Elephas maximus [8]
Perissodactyla species
Indian rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis [9]
Carnivora species
Bengal tiger Panthera tigris [10]
Snow leopard Panthera uncia [11]
Black panther Panthera pardus [12]
Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa
Indian leopard Panthera pardus fusca [13]
Red panda Ailurus fulgens [14]
Himalayan black bear Ursus thibetanus [15]
Sloth bear Melursus ursinus [16]
Striped hyena Hyaena hyaena [17]
Golden jackal Canis aureus
Bengal Fox Vulpes bengalensis
Jungle cat Felis chaus
Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis
Common palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus
Himalayan palm civet Paguma larvata
Large Indian civet Viverra zibetha
Small Indian civet Viverricula indica
Indian mongoose Urva edwardsii
Artiodactyl species
Wild water buffalo Bubalus arnee [18]
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius
Himalayan blue sheep Pseudois nayaur
Himalayan goral Naemorhedus goral
Indian muntjac Muntiacus vaginalis
Indian hog deer Axis porcinus
Albino muntjac Muntiacus vaginalis
Spotted deer Axis axis
Swamp deer Rucervus duvaucelii
Sambar deer Rusa unicolor
Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra
Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus
Four-horned antelope Tetracerus quadricornis
Wild boar Sus scrofa
Primate species
Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes [19]
Ring-tailed lemur Lemur catta [20]
Siamang Symphalangus syndactylus [21]
Mona monkey Cercopithecus mona
Patas monkey Erythrocebus patas
Vervet monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus
Assam macaque Macaca assamensis
Common langur Semnopithecus schistaceus
Rhesus macaque Macaca mulatta
Rodent species
Albino crested porcupine Hystrix cristata
Crested porcupine Hystrix cristata
Indian palm squirrel Funambulus palmarum
Northern palm squirrel Funambulus pennantii

Reptiles

Reptiles at the zoo include:[22][23]

Species Scientific name Ref(s)
Crocodilia species
Gharial Gavialis gangeticus
Chinese alligator Alligator sinensis
Mugger crocodile Crocodylus palustris
Squamata species
Bengal monitor Varanus bengalensis [24]
Asian rock python Python molurus
Monocled cobra Naja kaouthia
Testudines species
Aldabra tortoise Aldabrachelys gigantea
Indian pond turtle Melanochelys trijuga
Indian roofed turtle Pangshura tecta
Tricarinate hill turtle Melanochuelys tricarinata
Yellow-headed temple turtle Heosemys annandalii
Red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans

Birds

Birds at the zoo include:[25]

Central Zoo animal overview

Animals in the Central Zoo of Nepal are in the following categories and numbers, as of April 2011:

Categories Species Number
Mammals 43 200
Reptiles 9 21
Fishes 14 232
Birds 80 500
Total 146 953 [26]

Other facilities

The zoo includes a library, a children's small fun park, picnic areas and paddle boats on the lake. Fishing is allowed in the lake during some parts of the year.[2]

Mammals

Reptiles

Birds

References

  1. ^ a b c "Central Zoo in Jawalakhel". nepal.com. Nepal.com. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Central Zoo". ntnc.org.np. National Trust for Nature Conservation. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  3. ^ "Central Zoo". ntnc.org.np. National Trust for Nature Conservation.
  4. ^ a b c "The Show Must Go On". ecs.com.np. ECS Media Pvt Ltd. June 2011. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  5. ^ Joshi, Sushma (26 August 2004). "On the Road with the Red God". sushma.blogspot.com. Sushma Joshi. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Central Zoo: The Only Zoo of Nepal". colorfulnepal.com. Colorful Nepal. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Mammals". Central Zoo. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Pawan Kali at Kathmandu Central Zoo in Nepal". The Elephant Database. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Endangered one-horned rhinos fail to thrive in Central Zoo". Himalayan Times. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Tigers kept in 'fasting' at central zoo". República Nepal. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Nepal's 'low-altitude' snow leopard would face big hurdles in return to wild". OnlineKhabar. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  12. ^ "'Ghost of the forest' black panther makes public appearance at the Central Zoo in Nepal". ANI News. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Leopard on the loose captured after sparking alarm in Nepal's capital Kathmandu". The Straits Times. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Meet Nepal zoo's beloved red pandas who cannot survive without air conditioning". OnlineKhabar. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Nepal's Central Zoo to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic". OnlineKhabar English News. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  16. ^ "Bear Was Saved From 20 Years Of 'Dancing' — Then Secretly Sent To The Worst Zoo". The Dodo. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  17. ^ "Zoo Check: "Failed enclosures at Central Zoo need immediate improvement"". Animal Nepal’s Blog. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  18. ^ "Wild buffalo under threat at CNP". Himalayan Times. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Chimpanzee house opens at Central Zoo". National Trust for Nature Conservation. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  20. ^ "Ring-tailed lemur goes public in Central Zoo". The Himalayan Times. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  21. ^ "Baby banmanchhe born in zoo". The Himalayan Times. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  22. ^ "Reptiles". centralzoo.info. National Trust for Nature Conservation. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  23. ^ Durga Datt Joshi (2007). Welfare Assessment of Wildlife Animals and Birds in Central Zoo of Kathmandu, Nepal (PDF) (Second ed.). Kathmandu: National Zoonoses and Food Hygiene Research Centre; World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA). ISBN 99933-49-55-0. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2022.
  24. ^ "Common Monitor Lizard". Central Zoo. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  25. ^ "Birds". Central Zoo. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Central Zoo official website". Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2013-07-15.
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