Digital Education Centre set up at Central Zoo

KATHMANDU: A 'digital education centre' has been set up at the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel of Lalitpur.

The centre was established with the support of Nepal Investment Bank as an honour to British biological conservationist, Field Marshal Sir John Chapple, who has been contributing to Nepal's biological diversity and conservation for the past four decades, said zoo programme manager Chiranjibi Pokhrel. The facility came into operation from Tuesday.

Minister for Forests and Environment Shakti Bahadur Basnet -- who is also the Central Zoo and National Trust for Nature Conservation chair -- said the centre was expected to contribute significantly in the biological conservation efforts.

The then Rana Prime Minister Juddha Shumser Rana, in 1932 AD, had established the zoo as a private entity. Its ownership had come to the Nepal Government following the 1949 AD political changes in the country. It was opened for the public from 2011 BS.

The Trust has been assigned the responsibility for the zoo's management since 2052 BS. According to Pokhrel, research and studies on wildlife conservation and management are also conducted here.