Birdwatchers' park opening in Rajshahi soon

Rajshahi is set to get a new eco-friendly tourist attraction as the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) moves to transform the existing Rajshahi Botanical Garden into a bird-focused recreational park aimed at promoting nature-based tourism and wildlife conservation.

The proposed facility, likely to be named 'Rajshahi Bird Park', is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Livestock and other relevant authorities, RCC officials said.

The initiative is part of a broader plan to modernise and reorganise the park, which was previously known as Rajshahi Central Park and Zoo before being renamed Rajshahi Botanical Garden in 2023.

Officials said the transformation is intended to create a greener, more sustainable and visitor-friendly destination by introducing bird sanctuaries, nesting facilities and colourful bird species in a natural environment.

The 33-acre park currently houses a limited number of animals, including two gharials, spotted deer and around a hundred pigeons. RCC officials said maintaining a conventional zoo has become increasingly difficult due to limited space and rising maintenance costs.

Over the years, the construction of several facilities, including the Bangabandhu Novotheatre and a resort, has reduced the available area for wildlife conservation activities, prompting authorities to consider a new concept centred on birds and eco-tourism.

Veterinary Surgeon of RCC Dr Farhad Uddin said a formal proposal seeking project approval and allocation has already been sent to the Ministry of Livestock.

“If the proposal receives approval, renovation work will begin in phases. We plan to establish bird sanctuaries, create nesting facilities and introduce around 10 to 15 species of birds,” he said.

Officials believe the planned bird park will not only enhance biodiversity conservation efforts but also attract more visitors to Rajshahi through an eco-friendly tourism model.

Dr Farhad said the park currently has 129 deer, far exceeding its carrying capacity. According to Forest Department guidelines, each deer requires at least 500 square feet of space, while the existing enclosure can accommodate only around 80 deer.

To address the issue, RCC plans to relocate or transfer some deer through official procedures with Forest Department approval.

“The deer will only be provided for conservation and rearing purposes. They cannot be slaughtered under any circumstances,” he added.

According to RCC sources, the Jalalabad Para Commando Unit in Sylhet has requested five deer for a proposed sanctuary. Two of the deer would be sold at the government-fixed price, while three have been sought as donations.

The park also houses two gharials - a male named Gorai and a female named Padma. Earlier this year, the female gharial laid eggs, but the eggs could not be preserved after they accidentally fell into the pond unnoticed.

Authorities said additional monitoring and conservation measures are now being planned to improve wildlife protection inside the park.

Established in 1972, the park gradually evolved into one of Rajshahi’s most popular recreational destinations with lakes, artificial hills, flower gardens and a variety of animals and birds collected from home and abroad.

Over the decades, the zoo housed tigers, lions, bears, camels and hyenas. However, many animals gradually disappeared because of natural deaths and management challenges.

RCC officials expressed optimism that transforming the botanical garden into a bird-focused eco-park would create a more attractive, sustainable and conservation-oriented destination for both residents and tourists visiting Rajshahi.