Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park

Views:

Sight Address : Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park is located along the Pune Satara Highway near the Bharati Vidyapeeth University. The park is 8 kilometers from Pune, close to the Katraj Bus Depot. Edit

Detail InformationEdit

The zoo was re-named as the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park and Wildlife Research Centre (RGZP) and is still in the process of completion. It was inaugurated on the 14th March 1999. The zoo area is now 130 acres which also encompasses a water body popularly called as the Katraj Lake. The zoo is currently recognizedand categorized as a large zoo by the Central Zoo Authority and houses 362 animals, of which 147 animals are classified as endangered and critically endangered as per the schedules of the Wildlife Protection Act of India. The animal collection and the zoo premises are cared for by a dedicated work-force of around 100 personnel. At the time of inauguration, the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park displayed the snake park, sambars, spotted deer and monkeys. Over the years all the animals from Peshwe Park have been shifted to Katraj; the last of the lot being shifted on 16th March 2005. All the animals are now housed in spacious, naturalistic, moated enclosures. The zoo is being designed and developed with the aim of contributing to the ex-situ conservation of the critically endangered fauna of the Western Ghats. One of our goals is to promote awareness of our precious bio-diversity to the zoo visitors and inculcate in them a sense of responsibility to conserve them. We aim to achieve this through interpretation, education programmes and interesting signage. The wildlife research centre has been established to promote and carry out research in wild animals as even today, there is not a lot of data available on wild animal physiology, behaviour, diseases and treatment.
In the recent years, the zoo has been successful in the captive breeding of many endangered animals like the Bengal tiger, sloth bear, four horned antelope, blackbuck, monitor lizard, jackal, peacock, Russell’s viper,Indian cobra, etc.

Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park

HistoryEdit

Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park initially was a Snake Park at Katraj. In 1953 the Pune Municipal Corporation created a Peshwe Park on about 7 acres (2.8 ha) where Madhavrao Peshwe had established a private menagerie in 1870. Located in the heart of the city at the base of the Parvati hills, this zoo exhibited animals in traditional cages. In 1986, Mr. Neelam Kumar Khaire (the first director of the park), with assistance from the Pune Municipal Corporation, created the Katraj Snake Park on land that was to become the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park. In 1997, in order to create a more modern zoo in accordance with the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority of India, the municipality selected a site in Katraj and started developing a new zoo. The zoo opened in 1999 as the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, and initially included only the snake park, sambars, spotted deer, and monkeys. Although it took until 2005, all of the animals from Peshwe Park were eventually moved to the new site, and Peshwe Park was closed. The park also incorporates a rescue center for injured and orphaned animals. It has run an Animal Adoption Scheme since October 2010.

Must SeeEdit

Popular.

Visiting TimeEdit

9:30 am – 7:00 pm.

Closed OnEdit

Wednesday.

Best Season to VisitEdit

October to March.

Best Time To VisitEdit

Morning , Afternoon , Evening .

Time Required for SightseeingEdit

1 to 2 hours

Ticket Required : Yes Edit

Individual National Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. : N.A.

Kids Rs. : N.A.

Still Photo Camera Rs. : N.A.

Video Camera Rs. : N.A.

Guide Required : No Edit

Approximate cost: N.A.

Dress Code (If Any) : No Edit

Dress Require: N.A.

Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit

100 Biryanis ; Survery No.7/2/1-AB, Pune – Satara Road, Opposite Bharati Vidyapeeth, Dhankawadi, Pune، Maharashtra 411046. ; Ph/M – 020 2436 6660 ; Food Serve – Indian, Mughlai/Tandoori & Multi-Cuisine.

How to ReachEdit

Taxi : Taxis are easily available from railway station, airport, and different point of city to reach these destination. Contact no. for taxi of Mumbai – Pune 020-26135784 and Pune-Mumbai 020-26145365.

Bus : Pune has three bus stands: Pune train station stand for Mumbai, Goa, Belgaum, Kolhapur,Mahabaleshwar and Lonavla; Shivaji Nagar bus stand for Aurangabad, hmedabad and Nasik; and Swargate bus stand for Sinhagad, Benga-luru and Mangalore. Deluxe buses shuttle from the train-station bus stand to Dadar (Mumbai)every hour (Rs.260, four hours). Pune Station (Asiad) : 020-26122591 ; Pune Station (S.T. Stand) : 020-2616218 ; Shivaji Nagar Guest House (VIP) : 020-25536104 ; Shivaji Nagar Stand : 020-25536970 ; Swargate Depot : 020-24442968 ; Swargate Stand : 020-24441591/020-24449980.

Train : Pune railway station is the main railway head of Pune. It is located on HH Prince Aga Khan Rd, Sangamvadi. Good rail networks connect Pune with all other rail junctions in India. The Pune Suburban Railway connects Pune to Lonavala, a small town en-route to Mumbai. There is only one line with seventeen stations, Here The Pune Suburban Railway connects Pune to Lonavala, a small town en-route to Mumbai. There is only one line with seventeen stations; a second monorail line is under consideration by the government. Here is a list of all the stations, east to west. Pune City ; Shivaji Nagar ; Khadki Dapodi (CME Museum); Kasarwadi (Air Vents & Glass Factory); Pimpri (Pimpri Plant, TATA Plant); Chinchwad (Bride Industries Ltd)Akurdi (Force Motors Plant, Bajaj Tempo); Dehu Rd (Army AOC & ASC 512 Base repair Depots); Begdewadi (Loco Sheds); Ghorawadi; Talegaon (Muhammad Ali Rd, CRPF); Wadgaon (PWD bungalow); Kanhe; Kamshet; Malwali. Arr./Dep. (Recorded) : 133 ; Enquiry : 020-26126575 ; General : 139 ; Reservation : 132.

Air : Pune airport is located about 10 km away from the heart of the city, in the Lohagaon area. Taxi charge from airport to city is only Rs 200. Regular, direct flights are available from Pune to many cities in India. The cities Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai are all air connected to Pune. International travelers can get connecting flight from Mumbai International Airport. Air India – Airport 1800-227-722/020-26683210/020-26683211

Others : Auto-rickshaws : There is also a huge army of three wheeled rickshaws. There are some prepaid rickshaw stands at Shivajinagar, Swargate Bus Depot and Lohegaon Airport. From here autorickshaw is easily available to reach these sight.

Things to CarryEdit

Carry light cotton clothing, sunscreem, sun glasses, plenty of water and camera.

Safety / WarningEdit

While traveling from Pune to Mumbai beware of touts who induce you into cheaper travel. Rather take the Asiad buses from the regular stand at the Pune station or the crowded luxury buses which are safer options.
The auto rickshaw drivers can overcharge so ask them for meter readings and follow the rules of the meter while making payments.
The city is heavily polluted in crowded junctions so avoid traveling in rush hours.
Do not trust strangers while traveling and avoid traveling out late at night in lonely areas, though Pune is relatively a safe city, and the crime rate is low.