Mini Zoo Bhiwani

Mini Zoo Bhiwani was established in 1982 and spans 4.44 hectares (10.97 acres) within the municipal limits of Bhiwani town. Strategically located near the Mini Secretariat, it is just 2 km from Bhiwani Railway Station and 4 km from the Bus Stand, with excellent connectivity to major cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, and Jaipur. The zoo was officially recognized as a Mini Zoo (Small Category) by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) in 2008

The zoo initially faced closure due to poor conditions but was revived in 2006 under the guidance of the then Hon’ble Minister of Forests, Smt. Kiran Choudhry. Following CZA approval, significant infrastructure upgrades were undertaken including enclosures for bears, lions, crocodiles, leopards, hippopotamus, and deer species. Earlier, the foundation for the Deer Park and Bear enclosures was laid in 1982 and 1983 respectively, with further upgrades during the 7th Five Year Plan in 1987.

At present, the zoo houses 99 animals across 13 species, including 4 lions, 2 leopards, 20 crocodiles, 3 hippopotamus, and several Schedule I animals as per the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Recent modernization efforts include toe walls, cemented water tanks, tile-floored visitor paths, aviaries, post-mortem and treatment rooms, and visitor amenities like toilets and rain shelters.

To provide a more natural environment, climbers and fodder trees like Jandi, Mulberry, and Pilkhan have been planted around enclosures. Specialized habitats have been created for different species, such as water bodies for hippos, improved panther enclosures, and standard aviaries for birds. The deer enclosure alone spans 6400 square meters, capable of housing 20–30 animals, with rain shelters as per CZA norms.

The zoo currently offers visitor-friendly facilities such as wheelchair access, sitting arrangements, drinking water, and informative publicity boards. However, the zoo faces staff shortages and lacks an on-site veterinary officer, with medical support being arranged from the local veterinary hospital. There is a need for additional staffing and permanent veterinary services for improved animal care and management.