Nagaland Zoological Park (NZP), Rangapahar, the only zoological park in the state, is emerging as one of the biodiversity hot-spots in the Northeast despite multiple problems faced by the authorities in the upkeep of the park. Spread over 176 hectares , NZP was inaugurated in August 2008 and in the past few years, drew attention of biodiversity scholars and observers from within and outside the state.
“Nagaland Zoological Park is one of the 25 models zoos in India as per the Central Zoo Authority of India,” says ZNP chief wildlife warden T. Lotha, while pointing out that the zoological park has the potentials to develop into a world class park. This means there is the need to seriously consider the number of animals and birds collected for the zoo including those endangered and rare ones.
Since its inauguration, the park has also been making attempts to increase the number of captive wildlife species. Currently, the park boasts of more than 100 different species of captive wildlife comprising of mammals, birds, reptiles and those belonging to the cat family.
One special characteristic of the park is the seamless mixture of a lush green-landscape filled with copious botanical species and representative presence of wildlife including indigenous species.
Keeping in view the natural landscape, NZP has the potential to develop spots like deer safari and free animal ranch where the species would get natural feeds, fodder, forage and water, all provided by nature.
With the primary objective of conservation and protection of biodiversity - both flora and fauna, NZP’s mission, as of now, includes inculcating a deep sense of not only appreciating the flora and fauna but also promoting awareness of wildlife besides providing the much needed recreational facilities to the people of the state and biodiversity enthusiasts.
“First of all we must understand that the richness of a zoological park is not counted by the amount of revenue or profit collected or procured from it. It is counted by the number of animal species collected. One of the primary objectives being educating the people including children so as to encourage the love for animals,” says T. Lotha.
New animals for the zoological park could be procured through exchange programmes with other zoos in the country or through wildlife enthusiasts who at times bring the species to the zoo voluntarily.
It may be mentioned that female leopard ‘Rani’ of NZP recently got a companion named ‘Doom’ from the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation & Conservation (CWRC), Borjuri, Kaziranga National Park Assam.
What comes as a blessing to the wildlife authorities and enthusiast is the location of the zoological park in a naturally simulated environment. The park has the rich potential to develop and adopt the two known methods of conservation - in-situ and ex-situ methods.
In-situ conservation method is the on-site conservation. It is the process of protecting endangered plants, animal and bird species in their natural habitat. It has been considered as the most appropriate way of conserving biodiversity. Different species of indigenous and migratory birds that dot the park beyond the enclosures falls under this category of conservation.
Another potential capability of NZP is the preservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats known as ex-situ conservation method. This method involves conservation of animal genetic resources. The method draws on a diverse body of man-made techniques and facilities.
Around the world, zoological parks have started captive breeding of animals with possible reintroduction into the wild. Many zoos have now begun collecting living organisms for other zoos, aquaria and botanical gardens primarily set up for in depth research and public awareness.
“Basically zoos are the genetic pools of animals and birds where they are monitored in a controlled environment. We know that to enhance genetic viability, the animal species have to get themselves adapted to the environment. We must also note that inbreeding dilutes the purity of genes,” says P. Thirumalainathan, NZP asst. research officer.
He also emphasized that NZP has at least 14 Schedule I listed species of (Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972). They are the black soft-shell turtle, black kite, capped langur, common leopard, crested goshawk, crested serpent eagle, great Indian hornbill, Himalayan black bear, hoolock gibbon, Indian peafowl, leopard cat, rufous-necked hornbill, slow loris and wreathed hornbill.
NZP authorities have also been engaged in a vision-oriented planning in an effort to tap the full potential of the park. In order to expedite the process, NZP officials have started mulling tying up with different state departments for effective collaboration.
So far the main source of funding for NZP have been the state forest department and Central Zoo Authrority. Currently, NZP is working out collaborations with departments like irrigation and flood control department and also Nagaland bamboo mission.
The other areas that need to be addressed currently include recruitment of adequate manpower. As of now NZP runs with just about 45 staff members starting from range officers to store keepers.
One problem, NZP faces is the absence of a fulltime veterinary doctor permanently attached to it to oversee the health of the animals in times of need. So far, NZP has just one volunteer veterinary doctor who comes to see the animals when they fall sick. NZP authorities wish they could at least have one veterinary doctor deputed from the animal husbandry department.
Besides the health of the animals, another issue that has kept NZP authorities on tenterhooks is the fact that they have found it very difficult to maintain the park with the schedule of budgetary allocation by the government. Here, it simply means that the NZP authorities want the budget allocated for the animal feeds to be granted along with monthly salaries of the staff unlike the current practice of getting the same quarterly.
This, they say is important as most of the times, NZP authorities have to stock animal fodder and feeds on credit or procure them after getting a loan.
The difference in the system and schedule of fund release would definitely impact the physiological upkeep of the animal and bird species in the zoological park, argue NZP authorities.
Despite many difficulties, NZP authorities are not willing to give up their hope of elevating the park with world class facility. For this to be achieved, T. Lotha says NZP has to work out on certain plans.
These plans include maintaining the two identified water bodies inside the park; connectivity interface; amenities for visitors including cafeteria/restaurants, dwelling houses, children’s park; uninterrupted power and water supply; health-care system; rescue and trauma centre and of course developing a centre for breeding of rare indigenous wildlife species.
NZP authorities hope that with the participation of the government and the public, the ideal development of the only zoological park in state would be possible.
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