The Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (Patna Zoo) has achieved a remarkable milestone, ranking second in the world for rhino population, after the San Diego Zoo in the USA. The zoo currently houses 10 rhinos, including six males and four females from four different breeds.
Patna Zoo’s rhino journey began on May 28, 1979, when the first pair, a male named Kancha and a female named Kanchi, were brought from Assam. In March 1982, a third rhino, Raju, rescued from Bettiah, joined the park. Thanks to the zoo’s excellent management, breeding programmes, and superior care, the first rhino born at Patna Zoo, a female named Hartali, arrived on July 8, 1988, followed by another female, Rani.
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By 1991, the rhino population had grown to five, marking a significant achievement for the zoo. Subsequent births included Raja in December 1993, and Bajrangi in 1997, born to Hartali at the age of nine.
To enhance breeding quality, Ayodhya, a male rhino, was brought from Delhi Zoo in 2005, and a female rhino, Gauri, along with a calf, Lali, arrived from San Diego Zoo, USA, in 2007 under a wildlife exchange programme.
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The sustained growth of rhinos at Patna Zoo underscores the institution’s commitment to wildlife conservation and breeding excellence, earning it international recognition.