Kathmandu, November 27

The Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation is awaiting a budget of Rs five billion from the government to establish the National Zoological Park in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur.

The department submitted the Detailed Project Report of the zoological part to the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, according to officials.

Fencing and landscaping work of the park is in the final stage. The park includes seven community forests and one government forest in an area of 245.165 hectare with a 16-km perimeter. An office building and water treatment plants have also been constructed.

Following a cabinet meeting’s directive on 12 February  2015, the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conversation amended a 1972 act on wildlife conservation in February this year to open zoological parks in Nepal.

Plan for the zoological park includes a tunnelling system through which visitors can enjoy the wildlife in their natural habitat without disturbing them, installation of zip-flyers, cable cars and other possible rope ways.

An ex-situ conservation site to protect and breed endangered and exotic animals along with Rescue Centre and Animal Hospital will be built inside the park.

The zoological park will also work closely with National Trust for Natural Conservation to help protect, breed and provide natural habitat-like environment to animals, according to  department Spokesperson Narayan Rupakheti.

The NTNC is an autonomous body which has been running the central zoo at Jawalakhel.

Spokesman Rupakheti said, “Utmost priority will be given to provide natural habitat-like living-space to the animals, and provide sophisticated treatment facility. There is also a plan to turn the park into a breeding centre.”

“We are working on a five-year masterplan to build the park. We will start the project in full swing as soon as the DPR is passed by the Cabinet and we receive the budget,” he said. The government is also carrying out studies in each province to set up zoos.