Kathmandu, Jan 11: Following the increasing number of coronavirus cases in recent periods, people visiting the Central Zoo at Jawalakhel have to mandatorily follow health safety protocols issued by the government.    

Zoo Information Officer Leena Chalise said that it has been made mandatory to follow health safety protocols as the risk of coronavirus is high in the recent period.    

Visitors have to wear masks and sanitisers compulsorily, they are not allowed to eat sitting inside the zoo premises and they could not even feed animals.    

Additional health safety protocols should be followed if coronavirus cases increase in the coming days.    

A criterion has been prepared to operate the zoo from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm every day as usual by following the health safety protocols.    

The central zoo presently serves as the habitat for 1,068 animals of 110 species: 33 species of reptiles, eight amphibians and 17 are Pisces class. Among them, tiger, bear, leopard and red panda are the major attractions of the zoo.    

The zoo has protected and featured 15, out of 38, rare wildlife of Nepal.    

It charges Rs 1,000 each as the entry fee for foreigners, Rs 500 each from the visitors of SAARC nations, Rs 200 for a Nepali citizen, Rs 135 for a student and Rs 90 for an aged citizen.    

The zoo was established in 1932 as the private entity of then Rana Prime Minister, Judhha Shumser Jung Bahadur Rana, and it was open for public in 1956. National Trust for Nature Conservation was in 1995 entrusted its management for 30 years by the government.