Kolkata, May 23 (IANS): The city's Alipore zoo, India's oldest formally stated zoological park, will soon get a nature interpretation centre (NIC) to help visitors, especially children, get closer to nature.

The NIC is expected to open within the next two months, said zoo director Kanailal Ghosh.

"It will be devoted to mammals, reptiles and birds we have exhibited in the zoo. It will have their pictorial descriptions. Six kiosks with touchscreens will provide information on the zoo animals," he added.

The zoo director also said that the bear enclosure was undergoing total renovation.

The zoo houses around 108 species of animals. Recently, it received a pair of giant tortoises (Aldabra tortoises) from Seychelles. The acquisition came eight years after the death of Adwaita, an Aldabra tortoise brought to India by the East India Company as a gift for Lord Robert Clive. It was brought to the zoo in 1875, and reportedly had a lifespan of 255 years.