Physical facilities at the Central Zoo
- Information counter
- Souvenir shop
- Paddleboat and rafting
- Picnic shed
- Couple chairs
- Children ground (swings, funny temple, merry-go-round, Uranus, etc.)
- The visitor center (with audiovisual facilities)
- Library (books and audiovisuals)
- Aquarium (sub-tropical fish)
In 1995, the Government of Nepal entrusted the management of Nepal’s Central Zoo, the only zoo in Nepal, located at Jawalakhel in the Kathmandu Valley to NTNC for 30 years. Established as a private zoo in 1932 by the late Rana Prime Minister Juddha Samsher, it came under the ownership of Government of Nepal after the political changes of 1950 and remained under the management of various government departments before it’s management was handed over to NTNC on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Birthday Celebration of the Late Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah in December 1995.
The Trust aims to develop the Central Zoo as a center for ex-situ wildlife research and conservation education. The Central Zoo, with an area of about 6 ha., provides shelter to a total of 942 individual mammals, bird, fish, and reptile of 127 species. It also serves as a recreational center for visitors. Central Zoo uniquely serves as a historical-cultural site for diverse groups of people.
Over one million visitors come to enjoy the displays at the Central Zoo annually. The main source of income has been the revenue collected from the entry ticket sales. With an aim of generating public awareness and participation in nature and wildlife conservation, the Central Zoo has been successfully running a special membership-based program called the “Friends of Zoo” (FOZ) with a network of schools in Kathmandu Valley. The animal management unit is improving and enriching the enclosures to provide better habitats for the zoo animals and is now in a better situation with the operation of a recently established “Animal Hospital”. New displays, of national and international species, are often added in order to educate and to introduce the visitors to the different wild species from within the country and abroad. Increasingly the Central Zoo’s role in wildlife rescue, release and rehabilitation is being recognized as an indispensable role for enhancing the wildlife national responsiveness capacity of the country,
especially with growing incidents related to problem animal management, animal emergency, animal shelter and refuge, disease among others.
| Fees at the Central Zoo | |
| Entry Fee: | |
| Adult (Nepali) | :NRs 150 |
| Student (from 12+ years,Nepali) | :NRs 90 |
| Children (from 4-12 years,Nepali) | :NRs 50 |
| Adult (Foreigner) | :NRs 750 |
| Children (from 4-12 years Foreigner) | :NRs 375 |
| Filming: | |
| Video and documentary filming | : NRs 15,000 |
| Feature filming | : NRs 25,000 |
| Fishing: | |
| Nepali and Foreigner | : NRs 1000 |
| FOZ members | : NRs 500 |
| FOZ membership fee | |
| Nepali student | : NRs 200 |
| Nepali family of four members | : NRs 600 |
Note:
- The Central Zoo opens 10:00 – 17:00 hours from Sunday to Saturday.
- Fishing is open from 1st of Chaitra till 30th of Kartik
- Use of Plastic bags is prohibited
Objectives
- To improve animal health and welfare by creating natural habitat and providing food according to their dietary requirement;
- To encourage research and provide conservation education through the first-hand experience of wild animals; and
- To raise public awareness on the importance of nature conservation.
