Three new kinds of animal are coming to the National Zoo in Mirpur in the capital: a leopard, wildebeest and waterbirds. Work orders have been sent to bring them from various countries.

The animals will arrive before Eid-ul-Azha, said the zoo's director, Dr Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Talukder.

He told Jagonews24 on Monday (16 March) that no new animals are coming for Eid-ul-Fitr, but a new giraffe calf will be put on display for visitors. The tiger couple Beli and Togor have also had four cubs, but these are not being put on show.

The National Zoo in Mirpur is one of the main destinations for Dhaka's pleasure-seekers during the Eid holidays. Every year it is packed with visitors from the second day of Eid for several days, and the authorities have prepared to handle the crowds.

This year the government has declared a seven-day Eid holiday, from 17 March (Shab-e-Qadr) to 23 March. Eid-ul-Fitr will be on 20 March (Friday) or 21 March (Saturday). Those involved said the zoo will be crowded for the whole week from 20 March, and it will stay open on the Sunday after Eid even though that is its weekly closing day.

They said the authorities have already completed all preparations. At the 186-acre zoo, measures for visitors' security and against harassment include more ticket counters, keeping hawkers out and security patrols. Cleanliness, safe drinking water and good-quality food are also being arranged, and the whole zoo is being made more attractive. The director said several lakh visitors are expected over the holiday.

Dr Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Talukder said: "Our main aim at Eid is visitors' safety. We are working so that they can visit the zoo and leave safely. We have already written to all the law enforcement agencies and met them in person. During Eid, more police, RAB and Ansar members will be on duty inside and outside the zoo, and there will be round-the-clock CCTV monitoring. We want to give visitors a hassle-free environment. Special arrangements have also been made this time to clear the traffic jams in front of the zoo."

Entry fees are unchanged: everyone over two years old must buy a Tk 50 ticket.

According to the zoo authorities, there are about 3,100 animals of 135 species. Set up in 1974 on 186 acres, the Mirpur National Zoo is the country's largest. It has 38 carnivores of eight species, 271 large herbivores of 19 species and 198 small mammals of 18 species. There are also 72 reptiles of 10 species, 1,162 birds of 56 species and about 2,500 fish of 136 species in the aquarium, with 137 animal and bird enclosures in all.

Along with security, cleaning has been arranged, and the animals have been given vitamins and minerals to keep them physically fit.

Mohammad Rafiqul Islam said the painting work is finished and cleaning is under way. "The animals have been given vitamins and minerals. We hope visitors will be satisfied with the overall arrangements."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.