Indira Gandhi Zoological Park
About Indira Gandhi Zoological Park
Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is presently one of the largest zoo located in the natural settings of a reserve forest which covers an area of 625 acres. It is situated in the scenic Eastern Ghats. The Zoo is flanked by hills on either side and the Bay of Bengal on the East and attracts many visitors from all over the country. It was declared open to the public on 19 th May, 1977. Nearly eighty species of animals numbering to about eight hundred are present in the zoo. The Zoo Park has different sections for primates, carnivores, lesser carnivores, small mammals, reptiles, ungulates, and birds.
Primates: This section houses many different species of monkeys like the common Langur, Rhesus monkey, Bonnet Monkey and other exotic fauna like Mandrills, Olive Baboons etc.
Carnivores: This section has Panthers, Tigers, Lions, Pumas, Jaguars, Himalayan Black Bear, the Sloth Bear and lesser carnivores like the Wolves, Jackals, Wild Dogs, Hyenas, and Hippopotamus etc. The Crocodile Complex has all the three Indian Crocodile species.
Reptiles: The Reptile section has Pythons, Snakes, Land Tortoises, Terrapins, Water Monitor Lizards, Monitor Lizards etc.,
Herbivores: Elephant, Bison, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Nilgai, Barking Deer and Thamin Deer are in the collection.
Aves: Varied collection of birds from the Eastern Ghats in the large walk-through aviaries is a special attraction of the zoo. The Grey Pelicans, Rosy Pelicans, Pied Horn Bills, Painted Storks, Peacocks, Ducks, Love Birds, Budgerigars and Cockatiels form the bird collection of the Zoo.
There are certain points which should be kept in mind are that the animals should not be fed, the visitors should not tease the animals, the park should be kept clean, use the footpath, visitors should maintain the rules and co- operate with the zoo authorities. Train rides and elephant rides are available.
Getting There
By Air
It is connected with Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi and Bhubaneshwar. Indian Airlines flies daily to Hyderabad and five times a week to Chennai, New Delhi and Kolkata.
By Road
Visakhapatnam is 650 km from Hyderabad and 350 km from Vijayawada. Regular bus services are available to Hyderabad, \Tijayawada, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai and Tirupati.
By Rail
Visakhapatnam is a major junction on the commercially important Chennai Kolkata rail line. As such the city is well connected to all the major cities of the country by rail like New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. Daily express trains are available to all these four major cities.
