Dhenkanal: With the state’s investment of Rs 90 lakh, the Kapilash Ecological Park is all set to get a new look this year, sources revealed. The park situated in the foothills of Kapilash is expecting more tourists this year as 10 different animals including a leopard will be added to its newly proposed acclimatisation enclosure. Reportedly, the park already housing 247 animals including 8 elephants will get an upgraded boating facility with the beautification of the garden soon to be completed. Elephant Rakesh has been staying in a special enclosure, while others are staying at the Elephant Rescue Centre inside the boundary. The present animal count of 124 includes sambars, deer, and drug oxen, two bears, a large crocodile, and four hatchlings of the reptile, hares, peacocks, and different kinds of birds and snakes. In 1979, a deer park was inaugurated with the allocation of 5 hectare of land in the foothills of Kapilash.
However, another 24.64 hectare of land was allocated later. The Central Zoo Authority of India declared the spot as a full-fledged zoo on April 1, 1995. With the newly built enclosure, the park is going to get a new look this year, said Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Prakash Chand Gogineni. A new crawl space will be constructed and a leopard among 10 different species of new animals will find place in the zoo. A special vehicle will also be provided for the forest trails in the forest range office. The redevelopment project is expected to attract massive footfall this year, a department official added.