Largest Zoo aquarium opens for public in Nandankanan.

Bhubaneswar, Feb 4 (UNI) Country's largest Zoo aquarium comprising four marine and eleven fresh water aquarium built at a cost of nearly one crore was opened to the public at the famous Nandankana Zoo here today.

Supported by the Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad, a Centre of Excellence and Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Zoo aquarium was inaugurated by Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Nandankanan Zoo Director Ajit Kumar Pattnaik said the aquarium had adopted the latest concept, techniques and gadgets and was equipped with in-situ filtration and recycling mechanism.

He said out of 14 aquaria four, are marine aquarium and rest are fresh water aquaria, equipped with titanium chiller.

The two large size marine aquaria are of 3.5 meters length and 0.9 meter in width and other two are of 2.4 metres length and 0.9 metre width. Six fresh water aquariums are of 2.4m length and .9m width. The marine aquaria, he said were equipped with the latest gadgets and components, required to run the aquarium hassle free. One fresh water aquarium represents the fish fauna of Kanjia lake, located inside the Zoo.

In the modern zoo, aquarium would be an integral part of the zoo and play a vital role in conveying the message of conservation need of the aquatic species, Mr Pattnaik said.

Apart from this, the objective of the zoo aquarium is to disseminate and convey the conservation need of the aquatic ecosystem.

The most important component of the newly developed aquarium is the incorporation of the well researched education materials. The education materials are displayed in form of 30 trans-slides display-boards which cover all types of aquatic eco system.

There is a special section which depicts the unique marine ecosystem of Orissa, the Director said.

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