Nearly six decades old, Maitri Bagh is one of India’s key white tiger conservation centres. Since the arrival of its first white tiger pair from Nandankanan in 1990, the zoo has recorded the birth of 19 white tigers. Thirteen of them have been sent to zoos in Rajkot, Kanpur, Bokaro, Indore, Mukundpur, and Raipur. Six remain at the zoo today. With an estimated national population of around 160 white tigers, Maitri Bagh alone has contributed 19.
Founded as a garden in 1965 eight years after BSP’s establishment ,the premises were converted into a zoo in 1972. Initially, only bears and monkeys were housed, with lions and tigers added in the late 1970s. The zoo, spread over roughly 140 acres, is now home to about 400 animals across five major categories, including sambar, blue bull, hyenas, leopards, foxes, jackals, and gharials. It also features boating, a toy train, landscaped gardens, and a musical fountain.
Despite attracting nearly 1.2 million visitors annually, Maitri Bagh operates at a heavy loss. The zoo earns around ₹1.5 crore each year from its ₹20 entry ticket, while BSP spends approximately ₹4 crore on its upkeep. The persistent ₹2.5 crore deficit is a key reason behind the decision to outsource operations.
Facilities like, and parking are already contracted out, but this will be the first time the entire zoo is handed to a private agency. While the move is expected to improve facilities and speed up the process of acquiring new species currently delayed by lengthy approvals, it may also lead to a hike in entry fees. The shift could bring modernization and expanded attractions, but it may also impact the affordability of visits for the public.
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