On February 02 and 03, the Hon. Dr. Birendra Prasad Mahato, Minister of Forest and Environment, led a visit to the Madhesh Province capital in Janakpur to engage in discussions and coordination on the potential establishment of a provincial-level zoological garden.
The minister was accompanied by the Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Dr. Sindhu Prasad Dhungana, the Member Secretary of NTNC Mr. Sharad Chandra Adhikari, DNPWC Senior Ecologist Mr. Shyam Kumar Shah, NTNC Director Dr. Chiranjibi Prasad Pokheral, and NTNC-BCC Project Manager Ms. Rachana Shah.
As part of the interactions, the delegation also inspected a potential site for the garden. Significant attendees included Hon. Mr. Ramesh Prasad Kurmi, Minister for Forests and Environment of Madhesh Province, Hon. Mr. Dipak Karki, Member of the Federal Parliament representing Madhesh Province, and Mr. Uddhav Bahadur Ghimire, provincial Secretary for Forests and Environment.
DNPWC’s Mr. Shah, presented a feasibility assessment for establishing a provincial level zoological garden at Dhanushadham, near to Janakpur. Both Ministers Dr. Mahato and Mr. Kurmi expressed steadfast commitment to support the initiative from the central and provincial levels. They highlighted that it would not only bring important benefits to wildlife conservation, but would also generate employment opportunities, help foster economic growth, and expand conservation engagement in the local community.
The DNPWC director general Dr. Dhungana expressed optimism and spoke about the facility’s need and long-term merits. NTNC member secretary Mr. Adhikari made known his institution’s support and extended readiness to be a partner in the planned undertaking.
