The zoo serves as a recognized rescue and rehabilitation center for injured wildlife found in the surrounding Shivalik forests.
The park is located at an elevation that offers a distinct micro-climate compared to the main Dehradun city center.
It is one of the few zoological parks in India that successfully maintains a walk-through aviary environment.
The park was established specifically to preserve the natural habitat of the sambar and barking deer populations in the Malsi region.
Dehradun Zoo, locally known as Malsi Deer Park, is a zoological park situated along the base of the Shivalik range. Established in 1976, it functions as a mini-zoo and a rescue center for displaced wildlife. The grounds cover approximately 25 hectares of forested land. It hosts a diverse range of animals including leopard, nilgai, barking deer, and various species of migratory birds. The facility is managed by the Uttarakhand Forest Department. An educational park within the grounds focuses on local flora and fauna conservation. The site is characterized by hilly terrain and dense woodland. It serves as a recreational space for locals and a stopover for tourists traveling toward the hill station of Mussoorie.
The raised viewing platforms near the deer enclosures offer clear, unobstructed views of the wildlife against the backdrop of the Shivalik hills.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the terrain involves inclined paths and uneven natural ground.
Bring a water bottle and binoculars to better view birds in the upper tree canopy.
Visit during the shoulder seasons to avoid the heat of the plains and the heavy rainfall of the monsoon.
Avoid visiting during the peak monsoon season when trails become muddy and animal viewing is limited; do not attempt to interact with free-roaming monkeys.
Closed on Mondays for animal maintenance and sanitation.
Maintain silence near animal enclosures, do not feed the animals, and adhere to a strict no-littering policy to protect the local ecosystem.
