New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) With the launch of "NZP Saathi-Delhi Zoo" app, finding the animal habitat inside the sprawling National Zoological Park has now become as simple as following directions on a smartphone
screen.
The "NZP Saathi-Delhi Zoo" is a mobile application aimed at transforming the zoo-going experience by helping visitors navigate the premises, learn about animals and access facilities without depending on human guides, an official told PTI.
For a first-time visitor stepping inside the zoo's vast green landscape, the app functions almost like a digital companion. From locating an animal enclosure to identifying nearby food courts or drinking water points, the platform combines navigation, information and visitor services in a single interface.
One of its key features is an AI Guide Box that responds to visitor queries in real time. For instance, if a user types, "Where is the Asiatic lion habitat?", the app provides the exact distance of the enclosure and offers options such as "View Animal" and "Navigate".
The application also includes a 2D digital map displaying the location of animals and birds across the zoo along with their distance from the visitor's current point.
Under the "Explore" section, users can browse details about different animals, including species information, lifespan, biological details, diet patterns and lesser-known facts about them.
The app also attempts to simplify tour planning through curated routes under the "Plan My Visit" section under which the "Express Tour" is aimed at visitors looking for a quick one-to-two-hour trip through a three-kilometre loop covering over 30 animals.
The "Family Tour" offers a two-to-three-hour route spanning six kilometres and covering more than 45 animals. The longer "Explorer Tour", also referred to as the green route, stretches across seven to eight kilometres with 10 stops covering more than 60 animals.
Apart from animal navigation, the application also provides information about public facilities available inside the zoo premises.
Under the "Amenities" section, visitors can locate entry and exit gates, 10 washrooms, drinking water facilities, 13 buggy stops, five food courts, buggy booking centres, first-aid points, baby feeding areas and the education centre.
The app also allows users to purchase zoo tickets online through a login-based booking system.
The official said the platform has been designed in both Hindi and English, and includes details about zoo timings, entry tariffs, rules and regulations.
In addition to serving as a visitor guide, the app also acts as an information archive. Users can access details about the zoo's history, nearby Kos Minar, rhino armour and other heritage-related information linked to the zoological park.
The platform further includes a calendar carrying information about upcoming zoo events, programmes, activities and press releases.
Another feature enables visitors to track how many times they have visited the zoo and the areas they explored during each trip.
The app was uploaded on Google Play Store and iOS Store on May 13 and is being seen as a major step towards making zoo visits more interactive and technology-driven, the official said.
"If the application gains momentum and records a large number of downloads, the zoo authorities may also roll out its beta version with more advanced features," he said.
Zoo officials believe the application could help improve visitor movement and make trips more organised, especially during weekends and holidays when footfall remains high. PTI SHB SHB KSS
KSS
