Journalism of Courage
After a long wait -- of three months -- Delhi Zoo and all its animal and bird species welcomed back visitors. As was expected, people made a beeline for the place which, in pre-pandemic times, would have tourists swarming it all year long. The pandemic naturally imposed some restrictions, but it seemed families were just happy to finally see animals and birds again after many months of lockdown. Check out these pictures, courtesy of Indian Express photographer Praveen Khanna.
Visitors strictly wore masks, and according to reports, all other Covid-19 protocols and precautionary measures were put in place. The entry was done through online booking only. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
According to the National Zoological Park website, the place is home to a large number of birds, reptiles and mammals which "live in an environment that in many ways resembles their natural habitat". It not only provides a home for some endangered species, but also helps them to breed well in captivity. And this is what has attracted adults and children to this place, year after year. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
One for the camera: A group of visitors was clicked somewhere near the entrance, looking excited as they posed in front of the zoo sign. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
Elephants are a huge attraction here, and this giant mammal was definitely a crowd puller. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
News reports suggest that before welcoming people, the zoo premises were sanitised and cleaned thoroughly. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
Check out this photo of people gawking at two majestic elephants; what a sight! (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
Speaking of crowd-pullers, the white tiger is hugely popular, and people from all corners of the national capital congregate here to catch a glimpse of this stunning, rare, endangered being. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
We believe all of these people were mesmerised by the tiger, taking a moment to stand still and appreciate its beauty! (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
A perfect shot, indeed! (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
The zoo is spread over an area of about 200 acres, and when it reopened on August 1, visitors were informed that it would operate in two shifts -- 8 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 5 pm -- so as to avoid crowds. Additionally, it will be closed on Friday. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
Interestingly, visitors can buy tickets through the website or at the entry gates using QR codes, and if they are unable to make a visit, they can postpone or reschedule their tickets up to three times. This great feature will ensure more visits in the coming months. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
