Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park at Ormanjhi, counted as one of the medium national parks of India, is itching to be larger by the end of this financial year. For this, the Jharkhand Zoo Authority members have decided to focus on animal exchange programmes and also add an aquarium into its already rich biodiversity.
Zoo Director AK Patra, Veterinary Specialist Dr Ajay Kumar and two Range Forest officers recently have even assessed the zoo for the purpose. “We need two female hippopotamus for which we are expecting to get permission with guidelines from Central Zoo Authority by June 15. These animals would be brought from Nandankanan Zoo (Odisha). We are also trying to bring male and female rhinoceros from Patna zoo, Zebra from Mysore Zoo, Ostrich from Tamil Nadu Veterinary University and White Tiger from Nandankanan zoo or Bhilai zoo (Madhya Pradesh),” said Dr Ajay Kumar.
In return, Birsa zoo would be sending animals like Himalayan Black Bear, Indian Sloth Bear, Spotted Dear, Hyena and Sambar to the mentioned national parks. The expenses incurred for keeping wild animals is shared by both the sending and receiving zoo in equal proportion.
Whereas a tender for the further construction of the aquarium over three to four acres of land has been approved few days back. Conceding this aquarium as the best of its type in eastern India, AK Patra said, “We hope to commence the construction works of the aquarium in the coming six months and complete the same by the end of this financial year. Once it is made, we will line up for bringing rare fish varieties into this aquarium. There would be a separate aquarium for the infectious fishes as well.”
It is to be noticed the zoo authorities had planned to establish this aquarium, a butterfly park and an aqua park long back but because of technical reasons none of these three magnificent arenas could be established at the zoo premises till date.
The Birsa zoo in a land of 104 hectare areas is divided into zoological and botanical zones. “Our zoo is not suitable for an Aqua Park which is to be made at the botanical section where there is shortage of underground water,” said Patra. Officials say that in India, Birsa Zoo is the only zoo developed in natural forest environment.