• Nandankanan is in news because of frequent deaths of animals. Even the number of tigers in the safari has gone down.

No, we have a healthy tiger population as well as surplus female tigers. After 'Nandan' had strayed into the zoo on its own from the forest, our breeding capacity increased. From him, we have two cubs. We are even thinking of releasing tigers from the zoo to the Satkosia forest. Not only tiger, we have a healthy population of lions and other animals. We have a lion cub, which will be exhibited to the public next year. The zoo has 151 species of animals. It has 2,669 animals, including 634 mammals, 812 birds and 134 reptiles. We have 88 species of indigenous species, along with 32 exotic species of animals. More than 30 lakh people visit the zoo every year.

• The giraffe you had brought from the Alipore zoo in Bengal died because your expert team failed to examine its health condition...

That is not correct. When we export any animal under the exchange programme, we give a certificate stating that its health condition is good. Similarly, when any zoo sends us an animal, it gives a similar certificate. In this particular case, the Alipore zoo had issued the certificate. There is also an incubation period of 21 days, during which the animal's health condition is strictly monitored. But unfortunately, within five days it passed away. We have brought it to the Bengal government's notice, and our principal chief conservator of forest has written to their technical committee. The issue has reached the Central Zoo Authority. We hope that we will shortly get a male giraffe.

• With the death of the giraffe, questions have been raised on the ongoing animal exchange programme - is it helpful for the zoo?

Under the programme, we get various animals, including the exotic ones. Last year, we had brought four African lions and a zebra. The Central Zoo Authority strictly monitors the programme. Every zoo has to exhibit their list of surplus animals. When any zoo shows that it is surplus of any particular species, it will be sent to other zoos under the programme. We are surplus in the category of female tigers, bears, hyena and many birds, reptiles and fishes. We have informed our counterparts. While we send our surplus species to other zoos, we bring animals from them in exchange. Now, we have no male gharial crocodile. We are planning to bring one from the Lucknow zoo and give them a sloth bear in exchange. But, the import of exotic animals is more difficult as it involves clearance at several levels and approval of various state and Union ministries.

• It has been alleged that the zoo lacks adequate number of veterinary doctors. Many animals frequently fall sick and die because of the lack of medical facilities. Even, an elephant recently died at the zoo. Do you require more veterinary doctors to look after the animals' health?

Our zoo has three senior veterinary doctors. One medico is posted round the clock. If anything serious emerges, we have a medical team consisting of experts, including a medicine professor from the Odisha Veterinary College under the OUAT, to take care of them. At this point, I don't feel we require any more veterinary staff members.

• The ropeway has remained out of order for long. Will the service resume?

Damodar Ropeway has conducted a study and assured us of making the facility operational within 18 months. An agreement will be signed shortly. Once the official procedure is over, an agreement is executed. Then they will run the ropeway for another 20 years.

• The toy train's condition, too, is quite bad and often remains out of order...

We are in the process of renovating the toy train and its tracks. We have already taken up the issue with the railway ministry. We are arranging for funds. The Rail India Technical and Economic Service has conducted a survey and we are hopeful that they will go for modernisation of the entire system this year.

• The Kanjia lake inside the park seems to have lost its sheen as water from the nearby drains enter it. What are your plans to protect the lake?

The lake is spread over 75 hectares. But, a road now separates around 30 hectares and the two parts are connected only during monsoon. It is an important wetland south of the Mahanadi delta head. The water comes in and goes out. There is a blockage as well. We have taken up the issue of drain water with the Khurda district collector. The forest secretary has also had a meeting. Action will be taken according to Irrigation Act. The water body is full of weeds. We have to de-weed it. We are in the process of bringing a new machine and the lake will be cleaned. Once it is done, we will have fresh water.

• There has been reports of criminal activities inside the botanical garden. Even tourists do not venture there for security reasons.

During the festive occasions, police are deployed. However, many tourists don't visit the botanical garden, because big vehicles cannot ply on the approach road to it. We are also planning to acquire more land, so that the road can be widened and more tourists can visit the garden. It is spread over around 173 acres. It is one of the best places to take up various research and conservation activities.

• A number of people think the zoo fees are a little too much...

Our entry fee is Rs 25 - which is minimal as compared to other zoos. People can walk down and watch the animals. But if one wants to take the service of battery-operated vehicles, he or she has to pay more. This is a worldwide practice. Yet, we have kept the price low.

FOREST LOVER

• Sisir Acharya, a postgraduate in chemistry from Ravenshaw College, hails from Nayagarh district

• He did his matriculation from Brajendra High School, Nayagarh town

• Before taking over as the director of Nandankanan, he had served as the chief conservator of forests (kendu leaf) in the Sambalpur circle. He also served as the regional chief conservator of forest

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN HAD YOU NOT BEEN AN IFS OFFICER

I would have been in the field of education. After completion of my postgraduation, I moved to Delhi to pursue research in biomedical engineering. I could not complete due to problems with the guide as he had been abroad for three years. Then I appeared for the civil service examination and got selected for the IFS.