Patna: The Bihar government will begin the process of establishing a zoo in Gaya district once approval is received from the Central Zoo Authority, a senior official said on Saturday.
Anand Kishore, additional Chief Secretary of the State’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, shared the update during a meeting convened by Bihar legislative assembly speaker Prem Kumar. He said the state government has already granted in-principle approval for the proposed project in Gaya.
The meeting also included discussions on the state government’s Jal–Jeevan–Hariyali campaign, an initiative aimed at tackling climate change, conserving water resources and maintaining ecological balance. Officials emphasised the need to strengthen environmental protection measures alongside development projects.
Prem Kumar said the campaign has played an important role in promoting water conservation and addressing climate challenges in the state. He also suggested expanding the state’s green cover and developing green belts along major highways to improve ecological sustainability.
The assembly speaker further recommended creating green corridors along entry routes to Patna and other important gateways across Bihar. Anand Kishore said the department would soon prepare a detailed action plan to implement these proposals and begin work.
If approved, the Gaya facility will become Bihar’s third major wildlife attraction after Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park in Patna and Rajgir Zoo Safari near Rajgir. At present, the Patna zoo remains the state’s only traditional zoological park that attracts large numbers of visitors from across the region.
Officials said the new biological park is being planned to strengthen the state’s ecosystem and wildlife conservation efforts. The zoo is likely to be built near Jamari along the Gaya–Dobhi road in Gaya.
