Sambalpur Zoo Welcomes Four Royal Bengal Tigers, Marks New Era in Wildlife Conservation
Sambalpur Zoo in Motijharan has taken a historic step by welcoming four Royal Bengal Tigers for the very first time.
The arrival, approved by the Central Zoo Authority under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, positions western Odisha as a new hub for wildlife tourism and conservation.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will lay the foundation stone for a modern tiger enclosure spanning 1,500 square metres. Designed to provide a safe and enriched habitat, the facility will allow visitors to witness India’s national animal in all its majesty.
Zoo officials confirmed that plans are also underway to introduce mugger and gharial crocodiles, further expanding the diversity of species available for visitors.
Sambalpur Zoo, which received official zoo status in 2023, already houses 17 wildlife species, including a leopard.
The addition of large carnivores marks a turning point in the zoo’s evolution from its origins as a deer park.
Conservationists believe the initiative will inspire greater awareness about wildlife protection, boost eco-tourism, and strengthen the zoo’s role as a centre of cultural pride in Odisha.
