A young visitor checks out the marmoset in the new enclosure at Nandankanan zoo on Sunday. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 29: The environment and forest department is planning to augment visitors’ amenities at the state botanical garden in the Nandankanan wildlife sanctuary.

The new plan includes installation of ornamental chairs and cottages in the garden spread over 173 acres.

Besides, three enclosures with new animals were inaugurated today on the occasion of foundation day of the Nandankanan Zoological Park. While an Indian hare enclosure was a delight for the kids, the marmoset, a tiny monkey, attracted hundreds of visitors.

Another amphibian enclosure was also made open for public. The amphibian enclosure has 13 frog species, including Indian bull frog, green pond frog, Indian skipper frog and marbled toad.

A butterfly park would also come up in the park by March-end next year. The proposed park, to be set up over one acre, will house 85 species of butterflies documented so far in the garden.

Speaking on the foundation day of the Nandankanan Zoological Park, forest secretary R.K. Sharma said the first objective was to provide additional manpower for the botanical garden. “A proposal to recruit more employees for the botanical garden has been sent to state finance department for approval,” said Sharma.

A zoo official said six people were managing the garden instead of the sanctioned posts for 26 persons. The garden, which is one among the major tourist destinations in the state, has as many as 21 satellite gardens. It also has a number of attractions, including glass house, cacti house, a collection of 400 Bonsai plants, a rosarium with 1,000 rose plants belonging to 55 varieties and a medicinal garden with 200 species of medicinal trees.

The number of visitors to the garden is also on a rise. Statistics revealed that the number of visitors during 2012-13 was 1,11,180 against 88,148 during 2011-12. The revenue collection has also increased to Rs 16.57 lakh in 2012-13 as compared to 2011-12 when the revenue generation from the garden was Rs 13.04 lakh. The garden is also a favourite destination for picnickers in winter.

Zoo director Sudarshan Panda said the zoo would carry out animal exchange programmes to increase the existing population of the animals. “We are in constant touch with other zoos to bring a wide variety of animals, including colourful birds,” said Panda.

During 2012-13, the zoo had brought a giraffe, a pair of Asiatic lions and a pair of leopards.