The Nandankanan Zoological Park, nicknamed Garden of God, was established in 1960, and opened to the public in 1979 and became the first zoo in India to join the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) in 2009.
Unlike other zoos in the country, Nandankanan is built right inside the forest and set in a completely natural environment.
Kanjia Lake, a wetland of national importance is located along the Nandankanan Zoological Park.
It is the only zoo in the country, which has Patas Monkeys, Eastern Rosella variety of parakeet and Open-billed Stork (it is the second largest heronry for Open billed Storks in Odisha).
It is also the first zoo in the country where Gharials and endangered Ratel were born in captivity.
The zoo enjoys a good reputation internationally for successfully breeding black panthers, gharials, and white tigers in captivity.
Nandankanan is the first zoo in the World to breed White tiger and Melanistic tiger.
It is the only conservation breeding centre of Indian Pangolins in the world.
It is the only zoo in India to have an Open-top Leopard Enclosure.
Nandankanan is the only zoo in India after which an express train Puri-New Delhi express has been named as "Nandankanan Express".
