{ "id": "epp0a7ef1y", "slug": "sanjay-gandhi-jaivik-udyan", "title": "Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan", "updated": "2026-10-25", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.education", "label": "Education and knowledge institutions", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.education" }, { "id": "society.education.museums", "label": "Museums and collections", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.education.museums" }, { "id": "society.education.museums.aquaria-zoos", "label": "Aquariums and zoological gardens", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.education.museums.aquaria-zoos" }, { "id": "society.education.museums.aquaria-zoos.zoos-of-south-and-southeast-asia", "label": "Zoos of South and Southeast Asia", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.education.museums.aquaria-zoos.zoos-of-south-and-southeast-asia" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.society.education", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000: Education and knowledge institutions", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.society.education", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.society" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.society.education", "label": "Education and knowledge institutions", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.society.education" } ] }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.society.education", "label": "India · 2021 and later: Education and knowledge institutions", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society.education", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021", "label": "India · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.society.education", "label": "Education and knowledge institutions", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society.education" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan (संजय गांधी जैविक उद्यान), or Patna Zoo, is a 153-acre biological park on Bailey Road, Patna, Bihar, opened as a zoo in 1973, holding 800+ animals of 110+ species, ranked 4th in CZA MEE-2022, renamed Patna Zoo by the Bihar cabinet.", "snippet": "Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan (संजय गांधी जैविक उद्यान), or Patna Zoo, is a 153-acre biological park on Bailey Road, Patna, Bihar, opened as a zoo in 1973, holding 800+ animals of 110+ species, ranked 4th in CZA MEE-2022, renamed Patna Zoo by the Bihar cabinet.", "node": "society.education.museums.aquaria-zoos.zoos-of-south-and-southeast-asia", "markdown": "# Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan\n\n**Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan** (संजय गांधी जैविक उद्यान), also known as the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park and popularly called Patna Zoo, is a 153-acre combined botanical and zoological park on Bailey Road in Patna, Bihar, India. Opened to the public as a park-cum-zoo in 1973, it holds more than 800 animals of over 110 species and was ranked 4th among Indian zoos in the Central Zoo Authority's MEE-2022 evaluation.[1](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about) • [2](https://www.jica.go.jp/Resource/english/our_work/social_environmental/id/asia/south/india/tn44q1000001209u-att/fh2q4d000000rzwz.pdf) • [3](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about.php)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Location | Bailey Road, Patna, Bihar, near the official bungalows of ministers and legislators[3](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about.php) • [4](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-cabinet-renames-sanjay-gandhi-biological-park-patna-zoo-10665962/) |\n| Area | 153 acres (152.95 acres, 61.90 ha)[1](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about) |\n| Origin | Botanical garden begun in 1969 on about 34 acres of Governor House land; opened as a park-cum-zoo in 1973[2](https://www.jica.go.jp/Resource/english/our_work/social_environmental/id/asia/south/india/tn44q1000001209u-att/fh2q4d000000rzwz.pdf) |\n| Collection | Over 800 animals of more than 110 species; over 300 species of plants[1](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about) |\n| Notable animals | Royal Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, One-horned Rhinoceros, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, hippopotamuses[1](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about) • [5](https://www.prod.incredibleindia.gov.in/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/patna/sanjay-gandhi-biological-park.html) |\n| Recognition | Ranked 4th in MEE-2022 by the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi; classified a Large Zoo[1](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about) • [6](https://cza.nic.in/uploads/documents/publications/english/ZOO%20BOOK___LOW-RES.pdf) |\n| Visitors | More than 2.5 million (25 lakh) annually; average daily footfall over 6,000[3](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about.php) • [4](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-cabinet-renames-sanjay-gandhi-biological-park-patna-zoo-10665962/) |\n\n## History\n\nThe park began as a botanical garden in 1969, when the then Governor of Bihar, Nityanand Kanungo, provided almost 34 acres (14 ha) of land from the Governor House campus. A Japanese International Cooperation Agency survey report records that the Forest Department opened the site as a botanical garden for forest conservation and renamed it a [Biological Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/biological-park) in 1972, and that in 1973 the Government opened the whole area as a park-cum-zoo, declaring park-cum-zoo services an essential administrative service under the Bihar Essential Services Maintenance Act (1948).[2](https://www.jica.go.jp/Resource/english/our_work/social_environmental/id/asia/south/india/tn44q1000001209u-att/fh2q4d000000rzwz.pdf) The zoo's own history page dates the foundation to 1969 and the official inauguration and public opening to 1973.[7](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/index.php/about/history)\n\n**Naming.** Former chief minister Jagannath Mishra named the park after [Sanjay Gandhi](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-gandhi), the younger son of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, following Sanjay Gandhi's death in a 1980 plane crash; a Hindi news report dates the naming to 1980.[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-cabinet-renames-sanjay-gandhi-biological-park-patna-zoo-10665962/) • [8](https://ndtv.in/bihar-news/bihar-government-has-removed-sanjay-gandhi-name-from-patna-zoo-but-know-what-it-was-was-previously-called-11430132/amp/1)\n\n**Renaming.** The Bihar cabinet officially changed the park's name from Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park to Patna Zoo, reported by [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) in a May 2026 article; the same decision renamed the Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Dairy Technology as the Bihar State Institute of Dairy Technology.[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-cabinet-renames-sanjay-gandhi-biological-park-patna-zoo-10665962/) • [9](https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/bihar/patna/sanjay-gandhi-name-removed-from-patna-zoo-and-dairy-institute-in-bihar-samrat-chaudhary-government-decision/articleshow/130620876.cms)\n\n## Collection and facilities\n\nThe zoo houses over 800 animals representing more than 110 species, including the Royal Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephants, the One-horned Rhinoceros, and indigenous and exotic birds; big cats include lions, tigers, and leopards.[1](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about) • [3](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about.php) The Incredible India tourism listing adds chimpanzees, giraffes, zebras, elephants, monkeys, deer, and hippopotamuses among the animals on view.[5](https://www.prod.incredibleindia.gov.in/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/patna/sanjay-gandhi-biological-park.html) The botanical section features over 300 species of plants.[1](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about)\n\nFacilities include an aquarium with over 30 species of fish, located in a pond on an artificial island and requiring a separate ticket; a snake house with around 30 varieties of serpents; a rose garden, a herbal garden, a greenhouse, a children's park, a lake with boating, a tree house, and a five-compartment toy train that runs at regular intervals.[5](https://www.prod.incredibleindia.gov.in/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/patna/sanjay-gandhi-biological-park.html) The zoo's website lists attractions including Jal Udyan, Shishu Udyan, a 3D theater, a nature library, and golf carts.[11](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about)\n\n## Conservation and education\n\nThe park describes its mission as conserving wildlife through breeding programs, research, and education, and it reports successful breeding of endangered species including Royal Bengal Tigers, the One-horned Rhinoceros, and various indigenous birds.[1](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about) A dedicated education center for wildlife awareness was established in 2016, according to the zoo's history timeline.[7](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/index.php/about/history) The Central Zoo Authority lists the park among recognized Indian zoos and publishes its annual reports, most recently for 2024-2025.[11](https://cza.nic.in/annual-reports-of-zoos/en/page/9)\n\n## Role in the city\n\nWith more than 80% of its area covered in trees and plants, the park is known as the \"lungs of the city\" and plays a role in keeping Patna's environment clean and green.[3](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about.php) It is Patna's most frequented picnic spot, with more than 36,000 visitors on [New Year's Day](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-years-day) alone in 2011, and the district administration notes that on holidays the park is packed with residents of Patna and tourists from neighboring towns.[12](https://patna.nic.in/tourist-place/sanjay-gandhi-botanical-garden/) The park has also been a haunt of Bihar's political class: former chief minister [Karpoori Thakur](https://www.edgepedia.org/karpoori-thakur) walked there, and his successor [Lalu Prasad Yadav](https://www.edgepedia.org/lalu-prasad-yadav) held a cabinet meeting on its grounds.[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-cabinet-renames-sanjay-gandhi-biological-park-patna-zoo-10665962/) Because it is separated from the Patna airport by a single road, the zoo has figured in discussions of land concessions for airport expansion, which have not been granted; instead, the height of certain trees within the zoo is pruned to ensure safe landings.[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-cabinet-renames-sanjay-gandhi-biological-park-patna-zoo-10665962/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [About Patna Zoo, Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park official website](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about)\n2. [Preparatory Survey on Patna Metro Rail Project, Draft Final Report, JICA](https://www.jica.go.jp/Resource/english/our_work/social_environmental/id/asia/south/india/tn44q1000001209u-att/fh2q4d000000rzwz.pdf)\n3. [About Us - Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan, Patna Zoo official website](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about.php)\n4. [Where poets wandered and politicians met: The evolution of Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, now Patna Zoo, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-cabinet-renames-sanjay-gandhi-biological-park-patna-zoo-10665962/)\n5. [Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, Incredible India](https://www.prod.incredibleindia.gov.in/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/patna/sanjay-gandhi-biological-park.html)\n6. [Design Guidelines for Zoos, Central Zoo Authority](https://cza.nic.in/uploads/documents/publications/english/ZOO%20BOOK___LOW-RES.pdf)\n7. [History and Legacy, Patna Zoo official website](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/index.php/about/history)\n8. [Patna Zoo: सम्राट सरकार ने हटा डाला संजय गांधी का नाम, NDTV India](https://ndtv.in/bihar-news/bihar-government-has-removed-sanjay-gandhi-name-from-patna-zoo-but-know-what-it-was-was-previously-called-11430132/amp/1)\n9. [संजय गांधी का नाम हटने की खबर, Navbharat Times](https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/bihar/patna/sanjay-gandhi-name-removed-from-patna-zoo-and-dairy-institute-in-bihar-samrat-chaudhary-government-decision/articleshow/130620876.cms)\n10. [Patna Zoo attractions and facilities](https://patnazoo.bihar.gov.in/about)\n11. [Annual Reports of Zoos, Central Zoo Authority](https://cza.nic.in/annual-reports-of-zoos/en/page/9)\n12. [Sanjay Gandhi Botanical Garden, District Patna, Government of Bihar](https://patna.nic.in/tourist-place/sanjay-gandhi-botanical-garden/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Education and knowledge institutions › Museums and collections › Aquariums and zoological gardens › Zoos of South and Southeast Asia*\n\n*Initially written Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-gandhi-jaivik-udyan", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-gandhi-jaivik-udyan.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-gandhi-jaivik-udyan. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-gandhi-jaivik-udyan)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-gandhi-jaivik-udyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-gandhi-jaivik-udyan). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-gandhi-jaivik-udyan. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan, or Patna Zoo, is a 153-acre biological park on Bailey Road, Patna, Bihar, opened as a zoo in 1973, holding 800+ animals of 110+ species, ranked 4th in CZA MEE-2022, renamed Patna Zoo by the Bihar cabinet." }