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Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad
from Zoo Safari
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The Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad was inaugurated on 6th October 1963 after the relocation of the enclosures from the Public Gardens, Hyderabad. The Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad is 153.78 hectares, adjoining a nearly 243-hectare waterbody called the Mir-Alam Tank. This waterbody attracts hundreds of migratory birds, providing an additional attraction to the Zoo. Nestled in the boundary hills of the Deccan Plateau, the undulating landscape, makes Nehru Zoological Park, a premier destination in Hyderabad, for the locals, visitors and wildlife enthusiasts. The zoo houses close to 2044 individuals of over 192 species, of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad is one of the first zoos in the country to conceptualise a natural Safari and established the Lion Safari Park in 1974 extending over an area of 16.19 hectares. This has been upgraded to a Safari Complex adding a Tiger Safari with an area of 14.164 hectares. It was inaugurated in 1988. The Bear Safari and Bison Safari were inaugurated in 1992.
The tourists are taken through the Lion Safari, Tiger Safari, Bear Safari, Bison Safari and Nilgai Safari in CNG buses.
The near-natural environs of the safari showcase a diversity of flora and fauna. The area of the Safaris is covered with a green canopy, rocky hillocks, shrub forests and perennial water flows that connect the safaris to the Mir Alam tank.
The major floral assemblage of the Safari Park consists of Azhadirachta indica (Neem), Tamarindus indicus (Tamarind), Ficus religiosa (Peepal), Ficus bengalensis (Banyan), Ficus glomerata (Red River Fig), Albizzia lebbek (lebbek tree), Acacias, Santalum album (Sandalwood), Wrightia tinctoria (dyer’s oleander) etc.
The free-ranging fauna of the area is Spotted Deer, Indian Mongoose, Bengal Monitor Lizard, Indian Palm Civet, Black-naped hare, Three Striped Palm Squirrel etc. Besides mammals, there is a colourful variety of Deccan dry deciduous forest avifauna like Indian Peafowl, Grey Francolin, Partridges, Quails, Storks, Herons, Doves, Bee-eater, Indian Roller, Sun Birds, Flowerpeckers, Hoopoe, Wagtail, Magpie Robin, Bulbul, Babbler and Ducks etc. Herpetofauna includes Rock-agama, Common Garden Lizard, Grass Skink, etc.
