National Zoo ready to welcome Eid visitors

Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, the National Zoo is being prepared to entertain the city-dwellers during the Eid holidays.

Cleaning and decoration works are going on in various animal sheds. The authorities are expecting at least 1.5 lakh visitors to visit the zoo during this holiday.

The Daily Star spoke to National Zoo curator Mazibur Rahman about the upcoming Eid preparations.

"As always, this time too, we anticipate an increase in visitors during Eid," he said. "We have two tasks for Eid, one is organising the zoo and the other is cleaning the animal sheds."

The number of directional sign boards will be increased for easier movement and also for beautification.

The authorities have taken various initiatives considering the needs and benefits of the visitors coming to this zoo located in Mirpur of the capital. Some designs have also been made to modernise the zoo.

At the same time, new animals have been brought from different parts of the world in last year. So far 16 animals of five species have been brought. These include four African lions, three pelicans, three wildebeests, two kangaroos from the Netherlands and four llamas, he said.

Mazibur Rahman said, "There is a children's park and a museum in the zoo. Since children are the main visitors of the zoos and it's also a great medium of education for them -- the park is designed to give children a different taste."

The largest zoo in the country is spread over an area of ​​186 acres. Established in 1974, thousands of visitors come from far and wide to this entertainment center every day. The zoo has 42 animals of eight species of carnivores, 271 of 19 species of large animals (herbivores) and 198 of 18 species of small mammals.

There are also 72 reptiles of 10 species, 1,162 birds of 56 species, 3,065 animals including 200 species of fish are kept in the aquarium. Altogether there are 162 animal and bird cages.

The authority said the zoo will be open from 9:00am and will close after sunset during Eid holidays.