Nandan Kanan Zoo

Nandankanan Zoological Park is a 400-hectare (990-acre) zoo and botanical garden in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Established in 1960, it was opened to the public in 1979 and became the first zoo in India to join World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) in 2009. It also contains a botanical garden and part of it has been declared a sanctuary. Nandankanan, literally meaning The Garden of Heaven, is located near the capital city, Bhubaneswar, in the environs of the Chandaka forest, and includes the 134-acre (54 ha) Kanjia lake.

Endangered species such as the Asiatic lion, three Indian crocodilians, Sangal lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, Indian pangolin, mouse deer and countless birds, reptiles and fish have been breeding successfully at Nandankanan. The zoo includes 34 aquaria which are home to a large variety of fresh water fish. The Reptile Park's cave-like entrance is guarded by a life size Tyrannosaurus rex replica. This houses numerous species of crocodiles, lizards, turtles, and snakes. The zoo will have the largest Orchid House of Odisha soon spreading over 5,000 square feet. In Odisha alone, 130 species of orchids have been documented to date.

The zoo enjoys a good reputation internationally for successfully breeding Black panthers, Gharials, and white Tigers in captivity.