Kanpur Zoo

Kanpur Zoo also known as Kanpur Zoological Park or Allen Forest Zoo is one of the oldest Zoological Parks of india. It has been established and opened for the public on 4th february, 1974. It is a government organization and is controlled by the Forest Department, State Government of Uttar Pradesh. The Central zoo Authority of India, which is a statutory body under Central Government formulates various guiding principles and issues registration for the zoos. Kanpur Zoo is categorized as large Zoo and is accorded registration up to 30th June, 2012.

The area of the Zoological Park is about 76.56 ha. It is established in a man made forest. The terrain of the park is undulating and resembles a high forest. It is one of those Zoological Park which have been built on modern Zoo building principles.

The animals inhabited in the Zoological Park have been put in open and moated enclosures. The moated enclosures give the animal ample space for movement and help in expressing their biological and physiological expressions. The enclosures are screened by terrain in such a way that one enclosure is not visible from the other.

Thus the animals inhabiting the enclosures do not feel undue psychological pressure of the animals of adjoining enclosures.

Kanpur Zoo - Also known as Allen Forest Zoo

Location and hours

The Allen Forest Zoo is located about two kilometers (1.24 miles) from the city’s center.� In earlier colonial records, it is mentioned as being close to Nawabganj, a locality in kanpur. The zoo is an oasis of green, featuring a natural lake and ancient trees, and encompasses the largest land area of any zoological garden in Asia.
The zoo is open for visitors on all days from 9 AM to 4:30 PM, except on Mondays. Given its vast size, private four-wheeler vehicles are not allowed inside of the zoo. Two Electric cars are available on payment of Rs. 30 per person or Rs. 210 for a 50 mins ride. Plastic bags are strictly banned inside of the zoo, and water is provided in coolers instead of in plastic bottles. Water, snacks and ice cream is available in plenty.

History

The Zoological Park in Kanpur, (Cawnpore, ( known as the Manchester of Asia in the British colonial period) was the brainchild of a botanist Sir Allen, a member of the British Indian Civil Service. Sir Allen wanted to open the zoo in a natural forest, but his plans were stuck in bureaucratic red-tape and did not materialize. When the zoo at last opened in 1971 by the government of independent India, it was named after him.

Allen forest was developed during the British rule between the years 1913-1918 by George Burney Allen, a famous British industrialist of Kanpur on the banks of the river� Ganges. The zoo was constructed from 1971-1973. The first animal to arrive at the zoo was an otter caught by a fisherman from the Chambal River.

In 1975, the first appointed doctor of the zoo was Dr. Ashwani Kumar Tripathi, who graduated from the G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences. Dr. Tripathi contributed to efforts in introducing modern technology to keep the animals healthy. The enclosures for animals and birds were designed on the latest trends in the field of zoo building technology, well spread along the lake on either side of a semicircular arterial road of about 9 km. length.

Animals

Mammals at the zoo include White Asian tigers, cheetah, leopard, jaguar, hyena, black bear,grizzly bear, sloth, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, monkeys, langur, baboons, Musk deer, deer, and antelope. Chimpanzees (including a 26-year-old named Chhajju) and orangutans (including a 30-year-old named Mangal) have their own island. Some monkeys and deer are allowed to roam outside the enclosures as natural inhabitants of the zoo.

Amphibians at the zoo include Indian gharial.

Attractions

Botanical garden

The zoo houses a botanical garden with a collection of some of the country's rare species of plants that is dotted with sylvan lakes. The zoo grounds are also professionally maintained by forest conservationists, and it records large attendance from all age groups and communities in Kanpur. It is a popular destination for picnics, nature walks, and outdoor recreation, as well as teaching school students about natural habitats, environmental issues, and responsible eco-friendly living.

Lake

A rainwater lake is the centre of attraction at Allen Forest, and visitors can see hundreds of deer grazing in open savannah-like land without fear of any predator.

Aviary

The Aviary includes birds from all over the world, including parrots, cranes, parakeets, African ostriches, emus from Australia and New Zealand, various Indian birds, as well as birds from Europe and Latin America.

Night house

Night creatures are housed in a separate building. These include porcupines, toddy cats (Asian palm civet), and other nocturnal animals.

Aquarium

The zoo includes an aquarium.

Life Size Dinosaur Sculptures

There are life size sculptures of pre-historic dinosaurs.

Toy Train

The Allen Forest will soon have a toy train in place for which railway station and tracks are being laid at the zoo. However, project will be a valuable addition to the zoo but as a cost the forest will have to suffer a huge loss of greenery.

Conservation

The zoo includes a veterinary hospital that treats up to 1,400 animals at a time, including hyenas, jaguars, and elephants that are brought into the zoo, usually after bad encounters with humans.