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Ecology & Environment
Mahesh

09/02/23 09:07 AM IST

Rajasthan plans zoo for dolphins, rhinos inside Bharatpur sanctuary

In News
  • The Rajasthan state Forest Department has proposed to construct a zoo inside Keoladeo National Park, a World Heritage Site popularly known as Bharatpur bird sanctuary, to display a range of wetland species, including rhinos, water buffaloes, crocs, dolphins and exotic species.
Purpose of WESCE
  • The purpose of this zoo, called Wetland ex-situ Conservation Establishment (WESCE) is to rejuvenate the bio-diversity of Keoladeo National Park, thereby boosting its outstanding universal values.
  • The Rs 15-crore WESCE plan for Bharatpur is part of the ambitious RFBDP for which Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the overseas development arm of the French government, has agreed to fund up to Rs 1,200 crore over eight years.
  • Several facilities are planned inside Keoladeo national park.
  • These include: a breeding and re-introduction centre for locally extinct species, such as otters, fishing cats, blackbucks, hog deer, etc, “with collateral provision as exhibits for tourists”; an aquarium for indigenous species like Gangetic Dolphin, crocodiles; enclosures for the display of large wetland species like Indian Rhino,
  • Water Buffalo, Barasingha (swamp deer); an aviary, a reptile house and a veterinary care facility; and an integrated administrative block, tourist facilities, and residential quarters for Park manager, field staff and families.
Keoladeo National Park
  • Keoladeo National Park is a wetland and bird sanctuary located in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important bird-watching areas in the world.
  • Chilika Lake (Orissa) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were recognized as the first Ramsar Sites of India in 1981.
  • Currently, Keoladeo National Park and Loktak Lake (Manipur) are in Montreux record.
  • It is known for its rich avian diversity and abundance of waterbirds. The park is home to over 365 species of birds, including several rare and threatened species, such as the Siberian crane. 
  • Different species from far-flung areas of the northern hemisphere visit the Sanctuary for breeding. The Siberian crane is one of the rare species that can be spotted here.
Source- Indian Express

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