Spread over 214 acres, National Zoological Park Delhi
is one of the finest and largest in Asia. National Zoo Delhi provides
natural habitat to 2,300 varieties of plants and animals. Set up in
1959, the zoo was designed by Major Weinman of Sri Lanka and Carl
Hagenbeck of West Germany. The old fort provides the perfect backdrop of
the National Zoo.National Zoological Delhi is a wonderful place for nature enthusiasts. The well maintained zoo has red sand and gravel pathways taking one between the animal enclosures. The entire area is a smoke-free zone with strict food and beverage checks at the entrance. There is a canteen within the park and numerous trolleys for soft drinks and water. The zoo is also accessible to the physically disadvantaged with numerous facilities for them. There are battery driven carts that can be hired for a complete tour of the National Zoological Garden in Delhi.
Animals in Zoo
Most of the animals and birds have open enclosures and water areas. Dangerous animals like leopards and tigers are put in safe enclosures. Rare and exotic birds are also kept in spacious places. Animals like also Giraffes, Elephants, Hippopotamus, Bears, Painted Storks, Kites, Parakeets, Cockatoos, Emu, Cranes, African Wild Buffalo, Zebras, Spider Monkey, Macaque, Hyenas, Banteng, Peafowl and different species of Deer live in the zoo. The most sought-after animals are Rhinos, Tigers, Gir lions, and White Tiger.
The reptiles like King Cobras and Pythons have special underground caves. Pair of grey kangaroos from Australia, three African Antelopes (also called Red Lechwe), Black Buck, Indian Gazelle and pair of South American Jaguars are the pride of Delhi Zoo.
The Flora
The flora populace consists of there are as many as 5,591 trees of 125 species with the draught resistant Lahura, the Delhi Native Bistendu lining the entrance path, Phulahi trees and the deep yellow flowering Amaltas acting as hedges are the dominant ones. There are seven species of Bamboo and four species of Palm tree, both of them not indigenous to Delhi. There are some rare ones like Baobab trees (also called Kalpavriksha) which are only four in number in entire Delhi, three of them being in the zoo. It also has two of the last four Winged Calabash or Gourd tree remaining in Delhi.