Maharaj Baug and Zoo, Nagpur, Maharashtra India

Maharaj Baug was a wonderful park, which was later converted into a botanical garden. It was laid down by the Bhonsle rulers of the erstwhile Nagpur State and today, it also houses a zoo, which serves as home to some rare species of birds and animals.

Maharajbagh zoo is one of the smaller zoos in India and has consistently faced a shortage of funds for expansion and maintenance. In 2006, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (India) ordered the Maharashtra government to close smaller zoos in the state if they did not comply with the 1998 National Zoo policy. These orders applied to Nagpur’s zoo as it lacked open enclosures for its animals. Among the 51 objections raised by CZA were that lack of a wall along the near-by open nullah, or water channel, could cause infections among the animals. INR 1 lacs from Nagpur Municipal Corporation helped build a wall and open enclosures and the zoo was cleared of notice.