The National Zoological Park (Delhi Zoo) held its 2nd Tree Walk and 11th Sunday Bird Walk on 23 August 2026, under its Citizen Science Initiative — guided walks that invite the public to help record the zoo's wild bird and tree biodiversity alongside its captive collection. The walks recorded 42 bird species and more than 300 individual birds, alongside 40 tree species. Participants also counted more than 150 Painted Storks nesting on zoo trees, including one male stork, nicknamed "Ringo," that has nested at the same site for four consecutive years.
About National Zoological Park
- What It Is: National Zoological Park, or Delhi Zoo, is India's national zoo, run by the Central Zoo Authority under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- History: It opened in November 1959 and was renamed National Zoological Park in 1982, on a 176-acre site in New Delhi.
- Role: Beyond housing about 1,350 animals across 130 species, it runs a Citizen Science Initiative that involves the public in documenting the zoo's wild biodiversity, such as migratory birds and native trees.
About Central Zoo Authority
- What It Is: The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) is the statutory body that regulates and oversees zoos across India, setting standards for animal care and coordinating conservation breeding among them.
- Statutory Basis: Established under Chapter IVA (Sections 38A to 38J) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and reports to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- Relevance Here: National Zoological Park operates under the CZA's recognition and oversight, the same framework it functions within for its Citizen Science Initiative.