Lalitpur

The Central Zoo in Jawalakhel is facing a hard time managing the rescued animals brought from outside the Valley due to lack of space to keep them. As many as 293 rescued animals were brought to the Central Zoo from different places in the fiscal year 2013-14. The number of rescued animals in the fiscal year 2012-13 was 830, according to Sarita Gyawali, Chief of Central Zoo Management. Gyawali said the zoo is facing a challenge managing space for the rescued animals as the it is already struggling to to manage the zoo animals due to lack of space. She said as most of the rescued animals are sick and diseased, some of them die in course of treatment. Most of the animals are sent to the national parks after treatment while some are kept at the zoo. The zoo has been taking care of the rescued tigers, bears, monkeys, leopards and various birds. At present, there are some 900 animals of 114 species at the Central Zoo, which is spread over six hectare. Established basically as the private zoo by late Prime Minister Juddha Sumsher JB Rana in 1932, The Central Zoo is the only zoo in Nepal.