The Nandankanan National Park, famous for its family
of white tigers attracts tourists by the droves. Home
to 67 species of mammals, 18 species of reptiles and
81 species of birds, the national park is famous for
successful breeding of white tigers, Black Panthers
and gharial crocodiles.
The Nandankanan
zoo developed a vast complex in near natural surroundings
for the successful breeding of white tigers. To achieve
this success, an exclusive gene of White tigers mated,
and in 1980 gave birth to a litter. The population
of white tigers has increased ever since then and
white tiger cubs have been relocated to other parts
of the country as well as to other countries. Currently,
around 34 white tigers live in the Nandankanan National
Park.
The Nandankanan
zoo had the honor of being the first zoo to be chosen
as a home by a wild tigress herself. In 1967, a wild
tigress came inside the Nandankanan zoo by scaling
a high fence and leaped into the Tiger’s enclosure
and thus became the first wild animal to voluntarily
choose a zoo as its home.
The number of gharial
crocodiles has increased due to the Captive Breeding
Centre in the zoo. More than 200 species of the crocodile
have been hatched through this program. These crocodiles
have found their home in a 25 km long gorge, Tikarpara,
where the River Mahanadi flows through the thick forests.
These apart, endangered species like the Asiatic Lion,
Nilgiri Langur, and Lion tailed Macaque, Indian Pangolin
and the Mouse Deer roam the Nandankanan Park happily.
The 34 Aquaria at Nandankanan is home to a vast number
of freshwater fishes.
A statue
of a life size tyrannosaurus guards the Reptile Park’s
entrance which has the appearance of a cave. Crocodiles,
Lizards, snakes and turtles abound in the park
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