An invigorating account of a Visit to the National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Delhi Zoo)
A Day Amidst Nature:
An invigorating account of a Visit to the National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Delhi Zoo)
It's said “Seeing is Believing.”
I never knew that watching animals and listening trivia of their habit and habitats could prove so exciting and awe – inspiring until I chanced upon a visit to the imposing National Zoological Park at New Delhi in 2018 (formerly called the Delhi Zoo).
We boarded the bus at 8 in the morning inside the college premises and in a span of about an hour, – albeit the hubbub and singing assured me that it was merely minutes – we stood gaping before the structured and strikingly green building of the Zoo. A sense of consciousness dawned over, only when our teachers and the guide for the day, purchased tickets for us on ‘an educational trip account’, and we entered the boundaries. Hushed and with small steps, we passed through the entrance, looking forward to what the Zoo had to offer.
We were instructed not to lose track of the group and stayed together (Rightly so, and count on me, when I say this, for I learned it the hard way. A word of Caution: Kids, do not stray away from your group on educational excursions or otherwise.) The guide quickly introduced himself and chalked out the route for our trip: we were to begin with the flightless birds and then proceed to the Reptile House.
As we hopped onto the electric car that awaited us, our guide amazed us by offering that he would answer all our bizarre questions and would provide insights onto the habitat and life patterns of various animals that inhabited the Zoo.
He began by informing us, that, spread across 176 acres of land, the Zoo was opened in 1959 and is a home to several Endangered species, also enabling them to breed in captivity. Further, the Zoo provides data for different conservational studies. It shelters about 1350 individuals of a whopping 130 different animal species. Speaking of flora, it maintains a well – spruced area with abundant endemic species and an array of medicinal plants.
And, thus begins the trail of alluring organisms at the Delhi Zoo:
Our first stop was the Ostrich (Struthius), the largest living flightless bird which reaches 6 – 9 ft in height and can weight twice as an adult human being. The next were the Kiwis of New Zealand. We were told that these cute, little, feathery birds possess external nostrils at the end of their beaks which enabled them to literally sniff out worms! Impressed, we moved onto Cassowary (Casuarius) – a native to Queensland, Australia and islands around New Guinea. The bluish – black plumage, tainted with red and with its brownish Casque (the head gear); all marked it as an exquisite specimen to behold. Sadly, it is an Endangered species and under special vigilance.
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| A Cassowary walking along a beach. It sports an exquisite head gear: it's brownish casque. The significance of the Casque though, is unknown. But's it's believed it might serve as a Sexual Ornament. (Image Source) |
Next in succession was the Reptile House including all sorts of scaly animals and several snakes – the vipers, rattlesnakes and cobra. We debated whether it was better to not see them instead, scared out of our wits.
Hopping again onto the car, we passed across the majestic Indian Bison (with its horns), grazing grass peacefully, and stopped by the Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris) – to look at. We were intimidated as the feline opened its mouth showing at once its sharp, piercing teeth.
And then, birds like – Rosy Pelican, Long-tailed macaws, White Peacocks, and Red Parrots struck our gaze, until we were reminded of our next companion, the Himalayan Black bear, feeding on a fish given by a keeper.
Following them, we saw the long-snouted Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus),native to India, sunbathing in tranquility: a stark contrast to the round-snouted Crocodiles. Indeed, the scaly animals were rather frightful than photogenic. The next main attraction, and the one for which the Zoo is particularly known as, was the White Tiger (Panthera tigris). The tiger rested peacefully below, gazing at us, the onlookers, perhaps wondering at our sheer excitement.
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| White Tigers playing with one another at the National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Image Source) |
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| A Gharial at the Seabed at National Zoological Park, New Delhi. (Image Source) |
As we passed through the Giraffe enclosure, we could see them munching on leaves and got to know that they part their legs sideways, to drink water – A hilarious sight indeed! Then there were primates like Bonnet Macaque, Hoolock Gibbon, Chimpanzees and several of the monkeys. The Hamadryas Baboon, and Soft – shelled tortoise were certainly peculiar and quite amiable to be known.
We breezed swiftly on the battery car, getting to know the distinction between the large African elephants and its smaller Indian counterparts. To which Ma’am further added that Indian (Asian) elephants possess smaller ears too.
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| African Vs Asian Elephant. Pictured left, the African Elephant possesses larger ears whose shape rougly resembles Africa and bigger tusks; while the Asian elephants (right) possess smaller ears (of a different shape) and tusks. (Image Source) |
The Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) enclosure was indeed eventful, with one individual smiling at us while the other submerged deep into the waters, and there was one which terrified us by opening its huge mouth merely an inch away from our faces, though on the other side of the wall. The guide reported that its eyes and ears close automatically when submerged underwater. To our utter amazement, we chanced upon the fact that a Rhinoceros's horn is built up of just tangled mass of hair!
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| Great Indian Hornbill amidst the foliage, National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Image Source) |
What followed next was the cage of the Great Indian Hornbill: large, with a yellow, rounded head and strikingly different than what we had seen until then. Then there was the wise Barn Owl, Brow – Antlered Deer, Spotted Deer, Samber Deer: all capering and sprinting around. They looked exquisite as if smirking at us through the corner of the eye. The Hog Deer (Axis porcinus) drinking water was indeed a lovable sight.
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| A Hog Deer drinking water, National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Delhi Zoo) (Image Source) |
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| A Brow Antlered Deer resting peacefully at National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Delhi Zoo) (Image Source) |
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| A Black Swan gliding across water, National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Delhi Zoo) (Image Source) |
As we drove past, we also came to know of several migratory birds like the Painted Stroke, which visit India. And then, one of our teachers added that the Rosy Pelicans possess a Guller pouch in the beaks to hold water and fish in it, before tragically gulping them both down.
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| A Rosy Pelican gulping down fish in its Guller Pouch, National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Delhi Zoo) (Image Source) |
Venturing out after thanking the guide and the driver, we had a hearty lunch in the afternoon, quite exhausted and enchanted simultaneously with the day’s trail. We truly had an eventful day amidst the soaring trees and friendly creatures. Not to forget the remarkable flora of the place.
As we got into our bus with our teachers, fatigued and drained of energy reserves, we reflected on the diversity of the environment. Nature indeed is an astounding creator and does stupefy us each time, we try to understand its ways.
Just in case you're wondering why do I keep using "We" in my childish account of a mesmerizing visit: to be honest, the visit just wouldn't be the same had I not been surrounded with my quirky, crazy friends.
That being said, do visit the Zoological Park, New Delhi. It's fun and a delightful experience altogether!
Signing off!
Check out an informative account of the Endangered Fauna of India here: Endangered Species in India: The IUCN Red List Of Threatened Species™
To catch more of our eerily strange natural world and discover interesting, mind-boggling organisms, do hop over our other articles.
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