Shaheed Ashfaq Ullah Khan Zoological Park or Gorakhpur Zoological Garden commonly known as Gorakhpur Zoo is in

Gorakhpur Gorakhpur is a city in the List of state and union territory capitals in India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, along the banks of the West Rapti River, Rapti river in the Purvanchal , Purvanchal region. It is situated 272 kilometres east of ...

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...

, India. It is named after independence activist

Ashfaqulla Khan Ashfaqulla Khan (22 October 1900 – 19 December 1927) was a freedom fighter in the Indian independence movement against British rule and the co-founder of the Hindustan Republican Association, later to become the Hindustan Socialist Republic ...

. With an area of 121 acres, it is the second biggest zoo in the state after Kanpur Zoological Park. It was opened for public on 27 March 2021.

Location

Shaheed Ashfaq Ullah Khan Zoological Park is located on the Gorakhpur-Deoria bypass road. It is about 8 km away from Gorakhpur railway/bus station and about 11 km from the

airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...

. This zoological park is the first in

Purvanchal Purvanchal () is the region of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Purvanchal is also a proposed state in India, encompassing 32 eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh. The proposal, introduced in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 2011 by then Chief ...

and the third of Uttar Pradesh. The historical Ramgarh Tal Lake is situated on one side of it.

Gorakhnath temple Gorakhnath Math, also known as Gorakhnath Temple or Shri Gorakhnath Mandir, is a Hindu temple of the Nath monastic order group of the Nath tradition. The name Gorakhnath derives from the medieval saint, Gorakshanath (c. 11th century CE), a yo ...

is 10 km from the zoo. The city of Gorakhpur is surrounded by the Rapti and Rohin rivers. Kapilvastu, the birth place of Gautam Buddha and Kushinagar, the place of Parinirvana, is also close to this city. It is located in proximity to the circuit house, Buddhist museum, constellation, boating and water sports complex.

About

The zoo is established in a total area of 121.34 acres (49.10 ha). About 34 acres are in the form of wetland and 30 acres is dense forest. Tree plantation has been done in an additional area of 20 acres, that is, about 46.5 percent of the area of the zoological park is covered with trees. Due to the development of the zoological park as a green belt / forest like area, the entire area of the zoological park acts as a

carbon sink A carbon sink is a natural or artificial carbon sequestration process that "removes a greenhouse gas, an aerosol or a precursor of a greenhouse gas from the atmosphere". These sinks form an important part of the natural carbon cycle. An overar ...

and "green lungs" for the area. Arrangements have been made to keep 387 wild animals of more than 58 species, including Asiatic Lion, tiger, leopard, rhinoceros, zebra, hippopotamus, 2 species of bear, 3 species of monkey, 6 species of deer. Various species of reptiles and birds including hyena, wolf, aquarium, butterfly park and crocodile, are the center of attraction. It has quarantine centers, rescue centers, a post-mortem house, a kitchen and feed store. Since Gorakhpur Zoological Park is the only one in Purvanchal, establishment of rescue centers facilitate to rescue wild animals straying from the forests of Purvanchal and its adjoining

Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...

state and

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

in the populated area and for their immediate rescue and treatment and thus avoiding man-animal conflict. A veterinary hospital has been built for monitoring the health of wild animals, scientific study of their nature and research. Apart from this, incinerators have also been installed for disposal of dead wild animals and veterinary waste. Along with this, the zoo has public facilities like an interpretation center, 7D theatre, open air theater, ATM booth, souvenir shops, cafeteria, kiosk, gazebo, resting shed, benches, battery operated vehicle, toilet block. Arrangements have also been made of wheel chair for handicapped, pram for babies, R.O. water points and ODOP (One District One Product) shops. Safety and security includes CCTV, fire extinguishers and alarm system, solar fencing for carnivores, round the clock security arrangements and emergency exits. There are currently more than 226 animals available in the zoo, including lions, tigers, rhinos, hyenas, hippos, bears, monkeys, different types of deer, 10 types of birds and a beautiful aquarium. In March 2021, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister

Yogi Adityanath Yogi Adityanath (born Ajay Mohan Singh Bisht; 5 June 1972) is an Indian Hindu monk and politician. He is currently serving as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh since 19 March 2017, became the first to hold the office for two consecutive ter ...

inaugurated the zoo. This zoological park is the first zoological park of Purvanchal and the third of Uttar Pradesh. Monday weekly off. Entry Ticket price: (50rs. - over 12 years) (25rs. - 06 years to 12 years) (Free - Less than 06 years) 7D theatre price: (100rs. - over 12 years) (75rs. - 06 years to 12 years) (7D theatre - Tickets can be booked on the spot and on the basis of availability.) Just go to www(dot)gorakhpurzoo(dot)org and book your tickets now

Location

About

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Further reading