Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park Pune

Commonly known as the Katraj Snake Park, Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park is prominent zoo cum snake park in Pune. Spread over 130 acres, it is divided into three parts - an animal orphanage, a snake park, and a zoo; also there's a lake. In the snake park, one can see over 22 species of snakes and 10 other species of reptiles comprising over 150 individuals, including a King Cobra. In this section of the park, one can visit the library too that tells about all the vital information related to snakes. So as to engage more tourism, the park keeps on organizing festivals and snake awareness programs. The zoo in the complex features animals like leopard, sloth bears, sambars, barking deer, black bucks, monkeys, and elephants.

History of the Park

Till 1986, there were only two parks in Pune - Peshwe Park, and Katraj Snake Park. In 1997, a notice was issued by the government to make a modern park as per the guidelines of Central Zoo Authority of India. In 1999, a new zoo opened in Katraj by the name of Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park & Wildlife Research Centre. Initially, it was exclusively a reptile park with a small population of sambars, spotted deer, and monkeys. In 2005, all of the animals from Peshwe Park were included in the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park & Wildlife Research Centre. The park also incorporates a rescue center for injured and orphaned animals. It has run an animal adoption scheme since October 2010.

Address

Pune - Satara Road, Near Bharati Vidyapeeth, Katraj, Pune, Maharashtra 411046

Getting There

Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park is little off the main city on the Pune Satara Highway near the Bhartiya Vidyapeeth University. To reach here, one can take a bus or auto from anywhere in the city.