G. B. Pant High Altitude Zoo

G. B. Pant High Altitude Zoo
G. B. Pant High Altitude Zoo
	Himalayan bear in this hilly zoo
	29°22′52″N 79°28′08″E / 29.381°N 79.469°E
Date opened	1 June 1995
Location	Nainital, Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India
Annual visitors	approx. 125,000
Memberships	CZA
Website	www.nainitalzoo.org.in

Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoo is a high altitude zoo situated in Nainital, Kumaon. Established in 1984 and opened to public in 1995, it is situated on the Sher Ka Danda hill at a height of 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) above sea-level and is spread over 4.6 hectares (11 acres). It is the only High Altitude Zoo in north India, besides those in Darjeeling and Sikkim. Over the years it has become a popular tourist attraction ^[1]^[3]

History

The zoo was established in 1984, though it was opened to visitors on 1 June 1995.^[4]

The Naintal Zoo was home to India's only Siberian tiger from 2001 until its death in November 2011. The tiger, named Kunal, was half of a pair of tigers brought from Darjeeling in 1997. His older brother, named Mahesh, died in 2001.^[5]

Overview

The zoo has several endangered species of animals in the Himalayas, and animals like Royal Bengal tiger, Tibetan wolves, sambar, leopard cat and Himalayan bear. It also has a vast collection of high altitude birds, like kalij pheasant, Lady Amherst pheasant, rose ringed parakeet, golden pheasant and red junglefowl.

The zoo has night shelters for the animals, and curtains are put up in the bird enclosures during the winter months ^[6]

Geography

The zoo is situated at the elevation ranging from 2,100 to 2,150 metres (6,890 to 7,050 ft) above sea level between Shivalik and middle Himalayas mountain range. It has a forest cover of evergreen oak, cupressus, and two other species of oak.

Transport

The zoo is located about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) uphill from Tallital Bus station in Nainital. There is a steep motorable road leading to the zoo, though many tourist walk up the hill.

The zoo is open, Friday to Wednesday, 10.00 am - 4.30 p.m.