National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka

National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka
Dehiwala Zoo Museum
6°51′24.5″N 79°52′22.4″E / 6.856806°N 79.872889°E / 6.856806; 79.872889
Date opened	1936
Location	Dehiwala, Colombo
Land area	10.1 ha / 0.10 km2
No. of animals	3000 (2005)[1]
No. of species	310 (2013)[citation needed]
Annual visitors	~1.5 million (2008)[2]
Memberships	World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)
Major exhibits	Mammals, reptiles, aquatic animals, birds
Website	Official website

National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka (also called Dehiwala Zoo or Colombo Zoo) is a zoological garden in Dehiwala, Sri Lanka, founded in 1936. It is home to various birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians. The zoo not only exhibits animals from Sri Lanka, but also exhibits species from across Asian and other parts of the globe.

As of 2005, the zoo has 3,000 animals and 350 species. The annual revenue is LKR 40 million.

The Dehiwala Zoo exchanges its residents with other zoological gardens for breeding purposes. In June 2021, a lion named Thor which had been living in the zoo since 2012 reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.^[3][4]

History of dehiwala zoo

Sri Lanka has a history of collecting and keeping wild animals as pets by both

, a variety of pythons, fish and invertebrates.

Before World War I, the Dehiwala Zoo was also involved in Ethnographic Expositions (human zoo exhibits)^[5] and functioned as holding quarters for live human exhibits collected from around the region.^[6]

The zoo was closed at the beginning of

) collection. Although Dehiwala Zoo officially began operating in 1939, an impressive animal collection already existed as part of the Hagenback company's holding area where the public could visit.

Major

.

After Major Aubrey Neil Weinman's retirement Lyn de Alwis, took over as the zoo Director. Lyn de Alwis played a key role in the development of the zoo. During his tenure the zoo was considered one of the best zoos in the world. This fame led him to be contracted to help design both the

.

By 1969, half of the collection consisted of native species including virtually all of the mammals represented. In 1973, the zoo had 158 mammal species, 259 bird species, 56 reptile species and seven fish species. However, not much was reported on the size of zoo collection until the 1980s.

Zoo

Dehiwala Zoological Garden is one of the oldest zoological gardens in Asia. It has a substantial collection of worldwide animals, being open year-round and accessible via public transportation. The diversity of the zoo is shown its in aquarium, two walk-through aviaries, reptile house, butterfly garden and many enclosures of varying sizes.

The zoological garden has a small but picturesque butterfly garden which is decorated with small shrubs, trees, creepers and small streams. The internal temperature and humidity of the house is controlled by artificially created mist. The butterfly garden exhibits 30 species of butterflies in all stages of their life cycles for educational purposes.

Animals in Dehiwala Zoo
Category	Species	Number
Mammals	100	450
Birds	110	1000-1500
Fish	65	1000
Reptiles	34	250
Amphibians	3	20
Butterflies	30	100
Marine invertebrates	10	25

Landscape

The zoo has dense tree coverage and well-landscaped gardens. To provide more natural habitats some

are prominent among the trees in these patches.

The zoo consists of shaded pathways with arched cemented bridges for crossing animal enclosures although other equally attractive alternatives exist.

Museum

The museum section displays animal remains such as skeletons, footprints, eggs, excrements and specimen as well as preserved mammals and birds.^[7]

Animal shows

Elephant performances

The elephant performances are held at the elephant arena.

perform antics such as standing on their heads, wiggling their backs to music, hopping on one foot and standing up on their hind legs.

Educational programme on chimps

One of the main attractions of the Dehiwala Zoo is the baby

Sanju. He was hand raised and now his show is conducted as an educational programme about the chimpanzee's behaviours.

Sea lion performances

The sea lions' performances are displayed daily at the sea lions' pool. Two California sea lions are fed by their keepers. Unfortunately, this sea lion was housed in a measly enclosure with a makeshift bathtub in which to swim when not performing.

Animals

Panthera onca

) in the old big-cat grottos at Dehiwala Zoo, Sri Lanka.

The zoo consists of diverse

of its animals and introduce new species of animals as well.

Dehiwala Zoo always trying to expand its animal collection by introducing new species. In 2008, a three-month-old seal was brought to Sri Lanka from the Krefeld Zoo in Germany.^[8]

A green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) which was brought to Sri Lanka along with a male of her species, gave birth to 23 baby anacondas in the Dehiwala Zoo in 2008, and 20 of them survived.^[9] This was a very rare occasion of giving birth while in captivity, especially in a relatively unfamiliar territory.

The ongoing animal breeding program is helpful for increasing the population of some animal species in the zoo, and it also important for

.

The zoo currently houses many different species of mammals including;

.

The zoo exhibits their birds in a variety of exhibits including 2 large walk-though aviaries small cages and open air unenclosed ponds. These exhibits house a large array of birds including;

.

Many of the zoo's reptiles are housed at the reptile house. the zoo has a large collection of

Green Sea Turtle

.

New additions to the zoo

The table contains the introduction of new animal species which have been imported by the zoo administration. Many of these species were obtained through exchange programmes with foreign zoos from across the globe, while others were outright purchases, made by the zoo.

Year	Species	Amount	Origin
2004	Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx)[10]	2	Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic
2004	Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)[10]	1	Tiergarten Schönbrunn zoo in Austria
2004	Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus)[10]	1	Moscow Zoo in Russia
2005	Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)[11]	2	Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Japan
2007	Meerkats (Suricata suricatta)[12]	2	Singapore Zoo
2007	Rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta)[12]	2	Singapore Zoo
2008	Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)[13]	3	Xiangjiang Safari Park (Chimelong Safari Park) in China
2008	Greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)[13]	2	Xiangjiang Safari Park (Chimelong Safari Park) in China
2008	Plains zebra (Equus quagga)[13]	2	Xiangjiang Safari Park (Chimelong Safari Park) in China
2008	Patagonian mara(Dolichotis patagonum)[14]	2	Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic
2008	Ring-tailed coati(Nasua nasua)[14]	2	Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic
2008	California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)	1	Krefeld Zoo, Germany.
2009	Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)[15]	3	Leipzig Zoo , Germany
2009	Pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)[16]	1	Singapore Zoo
2010	White tiger[17]	2	Xiangjiang Safari Park (Chimelong Safari Park) in China
2010	Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)[18]	2	Rare Species Conservation Centre in England
2010	Meerkat[18] (Suricata suricatta)	2	Rare Species Conservation Centre in England
2012	Przewalski's Horse (Equus przewalskii)	2	Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic
2012	Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)	2	Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic
2012	Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)	2	Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic
2013	Cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus)	2	England
2013	Common squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus)	2	England
2016	Common squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus)	2	Guyana
2017	Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx)	2	Israel
2017	Pygmy marmoset (Callithrix pygmaea)	4	Israel
2017	Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)	6	Israel
2017	Golden-handed tamarin (Saguinus midas)	2	Israel
2017	Grivet (Chlorocebus aethiops)	6	Israel
2017	Crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis)	9	Israel
2017	South American coati (Nasua nasua)	2	Israel
2019	Jaguar (Panthera onca) (Black Panther)	1	BestZoo in the Netherlands
2023	Jaguar (Panthera onca)	1	BestZoo in the Netherlands

Conservation success

The zoo breeds numerous endangered species from across the globe. They have been able to breed;

.

Facilities for visitors

Elephant rides, pony rides, restaurants, ice cream shop, and a souvenir shop are available facilities for the visitors.

Gallery

• 
  A pair of

  jaguars

  in the old big-cat grottos (Panthera onca)
• 
  A pair of scarlet macaws (Ara macao)
• 
  Brown bear (Ursus arctos)
• 
  Sri Lankan axis deer (Axis axis ceylonensis)
• 
  Bengal tiger in the old big-cat grottos (Panthera tigris tigris)
• 
  Discus (Symphysodon spp.) fish
• 
  Blue and Gold Macaws

  .
• 
  Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
• 
  Female

  Indian Peafowl

  (Pavo cristatus)
• 
  Mute Swan

  in the large waterfowl pond (Cygnus olor)
• 
  Sumatran Orangutan

  (Pongo abelii) enclosure .
• 
  Common Ostrich
• 
  Victoria crowned pigeon
• 
  Toco toucan
• 
  Bactrian camel

See also

• Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
• Pinnawala Open Zoo
• Ridiyagama Safari Park

References

External links

• Official website
• Sightseeing in Colombo