Dolphin and rhino zoos are planned for the Bharatpur reserve in Rajasthan

The ambitious RFBDP, for which the French government’s foreign development agency, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), has promised to provide funding of up to Rs 1,200 crore over eight years, includes a Rs 15 crore WESCE plan for Bharatpur Reserve.

The Keoladeo National Park, a World Heritage Site also known as the Bharatpur bird sanctuary is where the Rajasthan state Forest Department has proposed building a zoo to house a variety of wetland species, including rhinoceros, water buffalo, crocodiles, dolphins, and exotic species.

According to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Development Project (RFBDP), the goal of this zoo, known as Wetland ex-situ Conservation Establishment (WESCE), is “to rejuvenate the bio-diversity of Keoladeo National Park, thereby boosting its outstanding universal values.” The ambitious RFBDP, for which the French government’s foreign development agency, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), has promised to provide funding of up to Rs 1,200 crore over eight years, includes a Rs 15 crore WESCE plan for Bharatpur Reserve.

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Experts have expressed concerns about the proposed zoo’s location in a crucial migratory bird habitat on a worldwide scale

When questioned about this, Munish Garg, the project’s director and principal chief conservator of forests for development in Rajasthan, said: “The project won’t get going till April. The forest administration has chosen to move the building activity 1-2 km further from the (national park) boundary where there is available forest area because they recognize the value of the bird habitat.

The DPR states that a number of facilities will be built inside Keoladeo National Park. These include an aquarium for native species like Gangetic Dolphin and Crocodiles; enclosures for the display of large wetland species like Indian Rhino, Water Buffalo, and Barasingha (swamp deer); an aviary, a reptile house, and a veterinary care facility; and an integrated administrative block, to name a few. Additionally, there will be a breeding and reintroduction center for locally extinct species, such as otters, fishing cats

An AFD representative remarked in response to a question about the zoo’s potential effects on the migratory bird habitat: “We are considering financial help to the Rajasthan Forest Department; this support has not yet been finalized, therefore we are unable to make any remarks at this stage… Respecting international environmental and social standards is a prerequisite for receiving AFD financing in order to guarantee that the projects are carried out sustainably.