Patna: Patna Zoo is highlighting its distinctive wildlife conservation record during Wildlife Week, with its gharial population emerging as one of its most notable features.
The zoo currently houses 165 gharials, comprising 14 adults and 151 juveniles. According to the available data, this is the largest gharial population among zoos worldwide.
Gharial Conservation And Planned Release
The adult population includes four males and 10 females, while the 151 juveniles are between one and four years old.
Patna Zoo has played a significant role in the breeding and conservation of gharials. Plans are also in place to transport a number of the reptiles to the Valmiki Tiger Reserve and release them into the Gandak River.
The proposed releases are aimed at strengthening the wild gharial population and supporting long-term conservation efforts.
Rhinoceroses Add To Zoo’s Distinctive Profile
Gharials are not the only species for which Patna Zoo is known. The zoo has 10 rhinoceroses, including six males and four females. Eight are adults and two are juveniles.
According to the available data, Patna Zoo has the second-largest rhinoceros population among zoos globally, after the San Diego Zoo in California.
The zoo’s rhinoceros collection includes animals associated with Assam and Chitwan National Park in Nepal, according to the information provided.
Five White Tigers Among 10 Tigers
Patna Zoo also has a long association with tiger conservation and breeding. Over 53 years, the zoo has housed 53 tigers, of which 36 were born at the facility.
It currently has 10 tigers, including five white tigers and five yellow-brown striped tigers. The white tigers remain one of the zoo’s prominent attractions.
Lions, Chimpanzees And Hippopotamuses
The zoo currently houses two Asiatic lionesses, Sita and Geeta, which are also popular with visitors.
It also has a pair of chimpanzees, Kartikeya and Subhadra, along with two pairs of hippopotamuses.
Five Giraffes At Patna Zoo
Patna Zoo is home to five giraffes — two males and three females. The males are named Bhima and Aman, while the females are Heema, Himani and Nandini.
The giraffes form part of the zoo’s collection of large herbivores, alongside species such as gaur and rhinoceroses.
Rare Species And Wildlife Awareness
The zoo also houses rare animals, including a white blackbuck, alongside larger species such as gaur, chimpanzees and hippopotamuses.
Wildlife Week has brought renewed attention to these species and the role of zoos in conservation, breeding and public awareness
