Now, Odisha’s Nandankanan Boasts Of India’s First Exotic Primate Enclosure [Watch]

Bhubaneswar: An exotic primate enclosure complex was finally opened at Nandankanan Zoological Park, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, on Sunday.

Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia inaugurated the enclosure. It has been designed to house seven species of primates, including Cotton Top Tamarin, Golden Handed Tamarin, Siamang, Black Tufted Marmoset, Common Marmoset, Geoffroy’s Marmoset and Squirrel Monkey.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Susanta Nanda, who was present on the occasion, shared some pictures and a video on his X handle and wrote: “The only exotic primate enclosure in India with Cotton Top Tamarin, Siamang, Common Marmoset, and Geoffroy’s Marmoset is ready to welcome you.”

Nandankan now has the distinction of having an exclusive exotic primate enclosure, the only in in India, inaugurated by Honourable FE&CC Minister today.

Cotton Top &
Golden Handed Tamarin, Siamang,
Black Tufted with Common &
Geoffroy’s Marmoset; Squirrel Monkey will welcome u pic.twitter.com/PBErhHH2XH

— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) November 10, 2024

These new species have been brought to Nandankanan with the patronship from SN Mohanty Group, Barbil, Keonjhar under the programme ‘Patron of Nandankanan’, according to zoo authorities.

The enclosure complex, developed over an area of 13665.20 sqft at a cost of Rs 1.75 crore, has seven nature-simulating enclosures with species-specific enrichment, 18 feeding cells, and 10 back kraals, meticulously designed to mimic the natural habitat, they added.

In August, four common marmosets—two male and two female—were brought from Hyderabad and kept in quarantine before being housed in a specially-designed exotic primate complex.