Bhubaneswar, July 25: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday allocated Rs 50 crore for development and beautification of Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar in the annual Budget for 2024-25 financial year.
Earlier this month, the zoo had begun relocating its surplus animals and reptile species to protected areas within the state to address overcrowding.
According to sources, Nandankanan gears up to relocate around 600 spotted deer. The process to release 100 spotted deer into Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary has already begun. Additionally, 200 deer will be relocated to Satkosia Tiger Reserve, and another 200 to Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary. Furthermore, 100 spotted deer will be taken to Kandhara Reserve Forest in Dhenkanal.
Meanwhile, the eco-friendly toy train facility in the Zoological Park that was halted since January 25 due to technical snag resumed on April 28.
The toy train has been a great attraction for children. It starts from the toy train station which goes round a circular track of 1.58 km along the lake and thickly vegetated hillock area with free ranging herbivores.
The eco-friendly battery-operated toy train with four bogies of 74-passenger capacity was introduced in October, 2021.
