Central Zoo to reopen adopting precaution

Kathmandu / Nov 12: The Central Zoo in Lalitpur which has been closed since March 20 is preparing to reopen by adopting health protocols.

Management chief of the Central Zoo, Dr Chiranjibi Prasad Pokhrel said that they were planning to reopen the zoo as its closure for long was affecting the food supplies for animals as well as the employees’ management.

“The coronavirus infection rate has not reduced but its terror has to some extent. The zoo will be opened in a few days and the set of rules for this is also ready,” Pokhrel added.

Once the rules are unveiled, the zoo administration will allow visits of only 800 people at a time, and the visitors will be prevented from feeding and touching the animals. Use of facemask will be made mandatory, games for children will be restricted and the visitors will be allowed to spend a maximum of one and a half hours between 10AM and 5PM, according to Pokhrel.

With the closure of the zoo for almost eight months now, the Central Zoo is facing hardships in its management owing to zero income.

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, a total of 80 officials were working but 20 officials were laid off recently.

Meanwhile, the Central Zoo is facing trouble for the lack of animal rescue centers. As there are human-animals conflicts after the wildlife enter the human settlements, the animals should be managed in the zoo. Such animals should be kept under surveillance for health checkups but the zoo lacks sufficient place for this, the officials shared.

The rescued animals should be kept under surveillance for long but the zoo lacks enough space for that, Dr Pokhrel stated.