Bhubaneswar: The Nandankanan Zoological Park witnessed an overwhelming response from tourists on the first day of the English New Year, with a record-breaking 35,656 tickets sold. The zoo was teeming with visitors, with long queues forming at the ticket counter from as early as 8 am.
By 5 pm, the zoo was packed, with tourists thronging the animal enclosures. Among the visitors, 6,719 were children, while 14 were foreign nationals. The zoo authorities collected a revenue of Rs 13,39,370 from ticket sales.
Additionally, 17 tourists took a ride on the ropeway, adding to the zoo’s revenue. In contrast, the State Botanical Garden witnessed a relatively low footfall, with 2,565 tickets sold, generating a revenue of Rs 83,770.
Notably, the State Botanical Garden has seen a decline in tourist numbers, possibly due to the ban on picnics in the area to protect the biodiversity of Kanjia-Kiakhani lake. The ban, which has been in place for a year, may have contributed to the reduced visitor numbers, which were lower than usual for the last day of the year and the first day of the New Year.
