Nehru Zoological Park adds new zebra enclosure to mark 62nd anniversary
HYDERABAD: On the occasion of the 62nd anniversary of the Nehru Zoological Park (NZP) and the 71st World Wildlife Week celebrations on Monday, several new facilities were inaugurated on the zoo premises to enhance visitor experience and animal welfare.
New enclosures and facilities inaugurated
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) C. Suvarna inaugurated the new amenities, which include ‘Simba’ canteen, a zebra enclosure, and a night house for bears. She was joined by Chief Wildlife Warden Elusing Meru, NZP Director Sunil S. Hiremath, and senior forest officials.
Suvarna said the Hyderabad zoo has some of the country’s best-designed animal enclosures. “The zoo attracts more than 25 lakh visitors every year. She said that they brought three zebras from Gujarat, and she’s confident their arrival will further increase footfall.
Focus on animal care and digital innovation
The event also highlighted the zoo’s success in treating critically ill animals, including a rhinoceros, Bengal tigers, and a Himalayan goral. The veterinary team was lauded for its interventions that saved several lives, such as reviving a Royal Bengal tiger from Warangal Zoo and treating a male leopard with a salivary cyst.
During the event, the zoo launched a smart digital diary for zookeepers to monitor animal health, feeding patterns, behaviour, and enclosure hygiene. Releasing the annual report, curator J. Vasantha said NZP currently houses 199 species and over 2,000 animals, and has been consistently modernising habitats.
Conservation and research initiatives
The zoo, in collaboration with CCMB-LaCONES, AIIMS Bibinagar, and VBRI, is conducting advanced research on zoonotic diseases, animal stress, and conservation genetics. Its Mouse Deer Conservation Programme has bred 564 individuals, with 264 released into Telangana forests. Under the Animal Exchange Programme, the zoo recently received swamp deer, chinkara, Siamese crocodile, cheer pheasant, long-billed vulture, and zebra, and plans to introduce gibbons, mandrills, ring-tailed lemurs, and wallabies.
According to official data, NZP received 22.93 lakh visitors in 2024–25, and has already recorded 10.99 lakh visitors between April and September 2025–26, reflecting its rising popularity.
