Bihar is getting its first treetop walkway at Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park in Patna, adding something quite different to the zoo experience. The 100-metre-long wooden path, about 16 feet wide and raised roughly 15 feet above the ground, will run through Ceylon oak trees so visitors can see the canopy from above rather than below. The INR 2-crore project is meant to make visits more engaging, and it will also have 15 selfie points along the way—though it’s hard not to pause and wonder how much people will actually “move towards” a selfie point when the main appeal is simply walking through the trees.
Elevated Walks
The treetop walkway is planned inside Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (Patna Zoo), where a 100-metre wooden structure will be built about 15 feet above the ground. It will be 16 feet wide and is designed to run through a stretch of Ceylon oak trees, linking two of them while passing several others along the way. The idea is to give visitors a different vantage point of the canopy, rather than the usual ground-level view.
At present, the proposal has been sent to the Central Zoo Authority and is awaiting approval before construction can begin. Alongside the walkway, the plan also includes 15 selfie points and a new cafeteria near Gate No. 1 to improve visitor facilities—raising a slightly practical question of how these curated stops will sit alongside what is, at its core, meant to be a slow, wandering experience through the trees.
Concerns Over Animal Care
Even as the treetop walkway is being planned, there’s been fresh chatter online about ethics, how some of the animals at the zoo are being looked after, especially after a few clips from early 2026 started doing the rounds.
Alleged neglect of white tiger (2026): Videos circulating on social media showed a white tiger in the zoo that appeared noticeably weak. The reaction was immediate and quite intense online.
Questions over management: In the aftermath, activists and some regular visitors have questioned whether daily care and supervision are being handled as they should be, with suggestions that the issue may not be limited to one case.
Past scrutiny and incidents: The zoo has faced similar criticism before. For instance, concerns were raised after the death of its only African elephant, Shankar, in September 2025 due to cardiac failure. This had raised concerns about overall animal care standards.
So while the idea of an elevated walkway is meant to bring visitors closer to nature, it also sits alongside a more difficult conversation. It raises a simple but awkward question—can new structures and visitor-friendly upgrades really paper over concerns that are already being raised about what’s happening at ground level?
Ethics Of Zoos
Zoos still divide opinion. On paper, they’re meant to protect species and teach people about wildlife, but the basic discomfort for critics is hard to ignore—wild animals are being kept in spaces far smaller and more controlled than anything they would choose in nature.
A key concern is welfare inside enclosures that may not match the scale or complexity of the wild. Animals such as elephants or polar bears, which are used to covering vast distances, are often kept in relatively restricted spaces, sometimes leading to repetitive, stress-driven behaviours commonly referred to as zoochosis—such as pacing or swaying. Critics also point out that keeping species in climates very different from their natural habitats can add to discomfort and strain.
That’s where the ethical pushback comes in. Even if conditions are improved over time, critics argue it doesn’t fully solve the core issue of captivity. Animals are sometimes shifted between zoos, separated from familiar groups, and kept in environments that can’t really replicate the wild—especially for social species like elephants, where those bonds matter a lot.
FAQs
What is being built at Patna Zoo?
A treetop walkway is planned at Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park to give visitors an elevated view of the canopy.
How long and large will the walkway be?
It will be around 100 metres long, 16 feet wide, and built about 15 feet above the ground.
What is the cost of the project?
The project is estimated to cost around 2 crore.
What is the aim of the walkway?
It is intended to improve the visitor experience by offering a more immersive view of the zoo’s natural surroundings.
What other facilities are planned?
The plan includes 15 selfie points and a new cafeteria near Gate No. 1.
Why is the zoo in the news for criticism?
It has faced renewed scrutiny over alleged concerns about animal care following online videos from early 2026.
