Vulture conservation & breeding centre opens at Nandankanan

Bhubaneswar: With an aim to save vultures, the State government has set up vulture conservation and breeding centre at the Nandankanan Zoological Park here.

As per reports, 12 vultures have been brought to the newly inaugurated breeding centre from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh.

“Vultures have been virtually wiped out from the State. Now we have brought the extinct species for breeding here so that their population will increase. Besides, there is a requirement of vultures here as they feed on carcasses,” said Bijayshree Routray, Forest and Environment Minister, on the sidelines of its 59th Foundation day of the zoological park.

Chief Wildlife Warden Sandeep Tripathy said vultures will be released from the zoo once their population increases at the breeding centre. He also informed that anacondas and giraffes will also be brought to Nandankanan as part of an exchange program with other zoos.

Sources said authorities of the zoological park have also got approval for breeding of pangolin at the zoo.

In another major move, the State government has decided to increase the area of the zoological park from 437 acre to 1,000 acre.

“The entry and exit points to Nandankanan will be changed and a multi layer parking area will be set up. The road connecting the zoological park and Barang station will also be well illuminated," Tripathy stated.

Meanwhile, authorities of the zoological park organised special functions to attract visitors on its 59th foundation day.