Master plan for Bihar’s second zoo in Araria to be sent to the Central Zoo Authority

The department for environment, forest, and climate change in Bihar is planning to send the master plan for its upcoming zoo in Raniganj block, Araria district to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) this month. The department has addressed all 13 queries raised by the CZA and will submit them with the master plan. After receiving approval from the CZA, the department will commence construction of the zoo.

The proposed zoo will be the second in Bihar after Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park in Patna and the first in north Bihar. Spread over 289 acres, the zoo will house indigenous animals such as lions, tigers, rhinoceros, and deer, as well as exotic animals such as giraffes, zebras, and ostriches, along with different kinds of apes and flightless birds.

The zoo's location features an artificial water body with mounds on two sides, as well as natural water bodies that attract migratory birds from October to March. These areas will be developed accordingly to appeal to bird lovers. The proximity of the zoo to Nepal and West Bengal is expected to draw tourists from other places.

The proposal for the zoo received approval from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at the state's wildlife board meeting in August 2020. Chief Wildlife Warden P K Gupta anticipates that the CZA will approve the proposal by the end of March or in April, after which the department will initiate further processes for construction. Gupta believes that the zoo's establishment will stimulate development in the area.