The Central Zoo is going digital relieving visitors from standing in a long queue for hours to book tickets. Following this, zoo-goers can book tickets online from anywhere. The zoo will go digital within the current fiscal year, 2076/77 as the administration is at work in this regard, said Dr. Chiranjibi Prasad Pokharel, chief of the zoo administration. Visitors can save their time and fewer workforce are required after the zoo going online, he said. At present, the zoo has five employees booking tickets. The number of people visiting zoo has increased as people are interested in watching different types of animals and birds as well as spending time in open space as there is lack of enough open space in the Kathmandu Valley. The entrance fee has been determined Rs 750 for foreigners, Rs 500 for guests of SAARC countries, Rs 150 for Nepali citizen and Rs 90 for students and senior citizens. Some 1.1 million people visit the zoo every year and the annual transaction is worth Rs 150 million.
The Zoo management has set up an information centre with an electronic notice board at the entry gate itself for the convenience of the visitors. The visitors can know about the animals in the zoo by reading electronic boards.
There are 1,098 animals of 119 species at the Central Zoo. Tiger, bear, leopard and red panda, among other animals, are the main attractions. Among the 119 species of animals at the zoo, 33 are mammals, 61 birds, eight amphibians and 17 fish. Similarly, 15 of the 38 rare species of animals that are listed as endangered in the country have been protected and exhibited at the zoo.
