Bhubaneswar: Incessant rain has forced authorities of Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) to discontinue safari and boating.
Sources said heavy rain has choked the drainage system of the zoo and resulted in waterlogging on its premises.
“Safaris at Nandankanan Zoological Park are temporarily closed and boating facilities suspended following waterlogging due to torrential rain,” NZP’s deputy director Jayanta Kumar Das said.
Enclosures of tigers, deer, ostriches and several birds have been flooded. Adding to the woes, the rise in the water level of Kanjia Lake has snapped communication to the botanical garden which is adjacent to the zoo.
“The water level at Kanjia Lake has gone up due to heavy rain since the last three-four days. The drain through which the surplus water of the lake used to flush out has been choked inundating the low lying areas of the zoo,” Das added. However, no animal inside the zoo has been affected due to the waterlogging, he pointed out.
Meanwhile, pumps have been installed to discharge rainwater from the flooded areas inside the zoo, particularly from the tiger enclosures.
The non-stop shower has also damaged the kuchha routes inside the safari due to which all rides have been suspended for some days, reports added.
“Once the rain stops, we will start the repair of the roads inside the safari and try to complete it by Tuesday or Wednesday. Until then, the safari has been stopped. Boating has been stopped too due to rise in water level in the lake,” added Das.
“Safari and many animal enclosures have been closed down due to rain. It is disappointing for tourists like me who have travelled such long distances,” said a tourist from Assam, Sangita Goswami.
Sources said as many as 7,000 to 8,000 tourists dropped in at the NZP despite the inclement weather. However, the numbers are less compared to regular days, stated the deputy director.
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