Atlas Explore the unseen : Bangladesh National Zoo, Dhaka

^{Hello, I'm @toufiq777}

Hope everyone is well I am also fine by the grace of God.

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Name and exact address of the place.

I am referring to the Bangladesh National Zoo—formerly known as Dhaka Zoo and more popularly known as Mirpur Zoo. Located in Mirpur, Dhaka, it is the largest zoo in Bangladesh. It is an institution under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of the Government of Bangladesh. Originally established as an animal exhibition at the High Court premises in 1950, the zoo was later opened to the public at its current location in 1974; thousands of visitors from all over Bangladesh come here every day.

Reason for visiting and the date.

I am very fond of the animal kingdom and enjoy spending time with various animals—I particularly love deer. However, I had a specific reason for visiting this place: I had never seen a giraffe or a zebra in person before. Since our local zoo in Rangpur does not have giraffes or zebras, I had long harbored a childhood wish to see these two animals up close. I had traveled to Dhaka for some work, and while there, I took some time out to visit the Bangladesh National Zoo with my mother and elder brother. I visited the zoo on July 18, 2026.

	Two zebras were grazing together.
	Several giraffes were staying in the same enclosure.

^{I sat with my mother and my elder brother and had a photo taken.}

What makes this place special?

The Bangladesh National Zoo is known by various names, but regardless of what it is called, it stands as one of the country's largest and oldest zoos. Located in Mirpur, approximately 18–20 kilometers from the heart of Dhaka—the capital of Bangladesh—this zoo operates under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of the Government of Bangladesh. Its key features are highlighted below:

• The Bangladesh National Zoo spans an area of ​​approximately 75 hectares, making it the largest zoo in the country in terms of size.

• The Bangladesh National Zoo houses thousands of animals and birds belonging to diverse native and exotic species—a variety not found in other zoos across the country.

• There are two large lakes within the zoo grounds, constantly alive with the chirping of birds. Surrounded by large trees that provide ample shade, these lakes offer a delightful setting to sit and relax with family members, especially in the afternoon.

	People were walking on the road beside the lake.
	There were animal cages and trees beside the lake.
	There was seating for the public beside a lake, where many people were sitting and spending their time.
	There was a lot of water in the lake.

• The Royal Bengal Tiger, giraffe, lion, and rhinoceros are the main attractions of this zoo. The separate enclosures for tigers and lions particularly draw the attention of visitors.

	A Royal Bengal tiger was sitting inside the cage.
	The lion, the king of the forest, was sitting inside the cage.
	A rhinoceros was grazing all alone.
	A tiger is spending time alone inside a large enclosure.
	I took a photo while standing in front of the tiger's cage.

• This zoo houses over 2,000 birds belonging to approximately 95 species. Among them is the ostrich, the world's largest bird; other notable species include the emu, heron, peacock, eagle, parakeet, and myna.

	A huge ostrich was searching for food.
	An ostrich was pacing around the cage alone.
	A few emus were wandering inside the cage.
	A few emus have come to the front of the cage, right in front of the visitors.
	A peacock was standing with its tail raised.
	It was the first time in my life I had seen a peacock standing with its tail held high like that.
	Several white peacocks were staying together in a cage.
	Many egrets were also confined in the same cage.

• Various species of wildlife, such as bears, elephants, horses, hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, leopards, monkeys, and deer, as well as various species of turtles, snakes, and crocodiles.

	A bear was pacing inside a cage.
	While two elephants were eating together in a room.
	A number of deer were grazing together.
	A horse was standing alone, eating grass.
	Several turtles had climbed out of the water and were sitting on a piece of wood, enjoying the sunlight.
	Two turtles were sitting side by side.

• There is an informative museum inside the Bangladesh National Zoo, where one can learn about various animals and their history.

Your personal experiences and feelings.

I visited the Rangpur Zoo many times during my childhood. I have always held a special affection for the animal kingdom. I used to visit the zoo frequently with my mother. My main goal whenever I went there was to see tigers or lions. I have come a long way since those childhood days and have grown up now, yet my love for the animal kingdom hasn't diminished in the slightest; those childhood wishes still remain in my heart. However, the Rangpur Zoo lacks certain animals—specifically, elephants, zebras, and giraffes cannot be found there. I had often seen zebras and giraffes on television, but I had never seen them in person before. My mother had never seen them either. My elder brother works in Dhaka, and we once traveled there for some business. On a day when he had time off work, we visited the Bangladesh National Zoo. There, we saw giraffes and zebras up close. Seeing these two animals in person for the first time was a wonderful experience. It is a feeling that cannot be fully expressed in writing; it was truly unique.

	I was standing in front of the giraffe enclosure.
	Several giraffes were standing inside the enclosure, eating.

I visited the zoo many times during my childhood with my mother and elder brother, and those memories remain vivid. Now, both of us brothers have grown up, and the pressures of work mean we rarely go out together anymore—let alone visit the zoo. However, after a long gap of 10 to 12 years, we finally visited the zoo together again. This trip brought back a flood of childhood memories. Today, the two of us were able to visit the zoo with our mother once more; experiencing this as adults felt truly special. Such moments remain etched in our hearts as lifelong memories.

	A donkey was sitting inside a cage
	Visiting the zoo with my elder brother and mother after a long time was a special feeling

Speaking from personal experience, the variety of animals I saw at the Bangladesh National Zoo was remarkable; I have never seen so many different animals gathered in one place at any other zoo. I saw fierce animals like tigers, bears, and lions there. For the safety of the public, these animals are kept in enclosures surrounded by protective netting, which makes it difficult to capture clear details of the animals in photographs. However, I did see tigers and lions in open-style enclosures. They were housed in very large spaces. I spotted a tiger there, though it was quite far away; I managed to take a picture, but the animal wasn't clearly visible due to the distance. Nevertheless, seeing a tiger with my own eyes in such an open setting was a unique and memorable experience.

	A tiger was sitting inside a huge cage
	A huge tiger's living space inside a massive cage

I also saw a large herd of deer there, roaming the area together and grazing in a group. There were about 200 to 300 deer in total; I had never seen so many deer together in my life, making it a truly unique experience for me.

	It was a unique experience for me to see so many deer roaming together inside the vast enclosure
	Many deer were grazing together in the shade of a banyan tree's foliage

I also saw tortoises, crocodiles, and rhinoceroses there. I spotted a large number of hippopotamuses in a vast pond, all gathered together underwater. Their enclosure covered a huge area, unlike the one at our Rangpur Zoo, which is much smaller and houses only a single hippo. Seeing so many hippos together for the first time was a significant experience for me.

	Inside a huge enclosure, many hippos were submerged together in a pond
	A turtle was in the water

I also saw many peacocks there, including both white ones and those of other colors. While we do have peacocks at our Rangpur Zoo, there aren't nearly as many as there are at the Bangladesh National Zoo. It was the first time I ever saw a peacock standing with its tail fully fanned out. I also saw many white peacocks—something not found at our Rangpur Zoo—which will remain a memorable experience for me.

	Many peacocks were kept inside a huge cage
	Many peacocks were walking around together

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