Nandankanan Zoological Park’s proposed cheetah enclosure is nearly complete, but the arrival of two pairs of African cheetahs remains pending because the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has not yet granted final approval for the project.
The Odisha zoo has identified a source facility in South Africa and has responded to multiple queries raised by the country’s apex zoo regulator, according to Nandankanan deputy director Pradeep Mirase. The authorities have also modified the original proposal and incorporated changes suggested by the CZA into the project’s master plan.
“We have discussed the matter with the CZA director. As per the CZA suggestions, the enclosure is also nearly ready,” Mirase said, according to the Times of India report.
The proposed habitat covers 2,329 square metres and has been designed around an African savannah theme. The main exhibit area accounts for 1,852.5 square metres. Officials said the design is intended to provide the animals with space to run, explore and display natural behaviour, while species-specific enrichment features are being added to support their physical and mental well-being.
The enclosure is also expected to form a new visitor attraction at Nandankanan, although the project cannot move to the animal-transfer stage until the regulatory process is completed. The prolonged wait means the cheetahs are unlikely to arrive in Odisha this year, the report said.
CZA approval is only the first major regulatory step remaining. After receiving clearance from the authority, Nandankanan will have to obtain permission from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which is required for importing animals from another country. The CZA’s approval is a prerequisite for seeking that DGFT clearance.
Earlier, zoo authorities had decided to transport one male-female pair each by sea rather than by cargo aircraft. The proposed movement will require sourcing the animals, handling and crating them, arranging transport, completing documentation and managing other logistics associated with an international animal transfer.
Officials estimate that the overall process will cost the Odisha government about Rs 2 crore. Shipping alone is expected to account for nearly Rs 50 lakh. The cost estimate covers not only transportation but also the operational and documentation requirements involved in bringing the animals from the identified South African zoo.
The project therefore remains dependent on two linked processes: completion of the enclosure in line with CZA requirements and approval for the international transfer. Nandankanan officials have indicated that the habitat work is close to completion, while the next formal milestone is the CZA’s final decision, followed by the DGFT permission required for import.
