As the first light of dawn enters the Biodiversity Park at Rani Chandramani Devi Government Hospital in Pedda Waltair in Visakhapatnam, the air hums with life. The rhythmic call of the cuckoo punctuates the morning stillness, as a gentle breeze flows through the lush expanse. A pair of spotted owlets peer curiously from their hollowed-out home in an old tree, their wide eyes taking in the world. Butterflies flit gracefully from flower to flower, their iridescent wings catching the sunlight.. This green oasis, now celebrating 23 years of its foundation, stands as a testament to Nature’s resilience and human perseverance.
Maintained by Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Development Authority (VMRDA) in collaboration with the Dolphin Nature Conservation Society (DNCS), the Biodiversity Park is home to more than 2,000 plants, including medicinal herbs, rare species from the Mesozoic period like Ginkgo biloba, and a striking array of ornamental orchids, air plants, cacti, and succulents. Once a barren piece of land, it has been transformed by the efforts of the founder M Ram Murty and his wife, Mangathayi, into a thriving space whose microclimate results in significantly lower temperatures than the surrounding concrete jungle of Pedda Waltair. The dense vegetation has enhanced humidity levels, creating a conducive environment for flora and fauna to flourish.
M Ram Murty and his wife Mangathayi at the Biodiversity Park which has more than 2,000 plant species and recently completed 23 years of its foundation, in Visakhapatnam.
| Photo Credit:
KR Deepak
“Our objective is to create an ex-situ conservation centre for a majority of endangered species. We are trying to propagate them by creating a congenial environment, studying their native habitats and habits, and simulating conditions similar to a greenhouse or a cacti and succulents conservatory,” says Ram Murty.
Each section of the three-acre park serves as a research and educational hub. The park is divided into zones for medicinal and herbal plants, Mesozoic-era plants and living fossils, sacred groves, aquatic species, cacti and succulents, ferns, carnivorous plants, and orchids. “Of course, some species may not grow into tall trees due to climate and environmental conditions, but we can at least showcase the plants, even if they remain small in size or do not yield commercially,” explains Ram Murty.
Orchids in bloom at the green house of the Biodiversity Park which has more than 2,000 plant species and recently completed 23 years of its foundation, in Visakhapatnam.
| Photo Credit:
KR Deepak
There is a separate section for rare orchids and insectivorous plants. “We have created a conservatory for these. The carnivorous plants, especially, are endangered,” he says.
Pitcher plant, a type of carnivorous plant, at the Biodiversity Park which has more than 2,000 plant species and recently completed 23 years of its foundation, in Visakhapatnam.
| Photo Credit:
KR Deepak
The park has a Nepenthes pitcher plant, one of Nature’s most fascinating carnivorous species known for its elaborate, fluid-filled traps that lure unsuspecting insects. Unlike typical plants that derive nutrients solely from the soil, Nepenthes supplement their diet by digesting insects and even small vertebrates that fall into their pitcher-like structure. Found in nutrient-poor soils, this adaptation allows Nepenthes to thrive in conditions where most plants struggle. The park’s collection of pitcher plants captivates researchers and students alike, offering a glimpse into the extraordinary mechanisms of plant evolution and survival. “We are acquiring the plants from nurseries in Kerala and Kalimpong in West Bengal, where they are propagated using tissue culture techniques,” says Ram Murty.
Rare sections
Rows of cacti and succulents at the Biodiversity Park which has more than 2,000 plant species and recently completed 23 years of its foundation, in Visakhapatnam.
| Photo Credit:
KR Deepak
Seeds, stem cuttings, and even whole plants are sourced from forests, students across India, and through online purchases from nurseries. There are Himalayan species like Deodar and Taxodium, as well as Ginkgo biloba from Himachal Pradesh. The Park has more than 30 species of rare gymnosperms. The Ginkgo biloba, for instance, is a living fossil that has survived for millions of years, even enduring the atomic bomb explosion during World War II. Scientists are currently studying how it resisted radiation effects. “It is one of the best oxygenators and has immense medicinal value, with extracts used in treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Students are always fascinated to learn about this beautiful tree with its bilobate dichotomy veins,” says Ram Murty.
In the cacti and succulent section, one can find rare species such as lithops, also called finger magnets, living pebbles or flowering stones and Astrophytum asterias or sea urchin cactus. The lipthops are the world’s most camouflaged plant that blend in with rocks to avoid being eaten.
Educational tourism
Recently, Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) Commissioner KS Viswanathan visited the park and proposed promoting it as an educational tourism spot, adding that development efforts would be undertaken in a phased manner. Ram Murty and Mangathayi emphasise the need for trained guides and support staff to maintain the park. The park requires an annual maintenance budget of ₹10 to 12 lakhs, “which is a meagre amount considering the educational and ecological benefits it offers to the people,” says Ram Murty. Currently, researchers and students from the region and various parts of India visit for study tours.
A spotted owlet peeping out of its home rom a tree at the Biodiversity Park.
| Photo Credit:
KR Deepak
The park has documented the lifecycle of more than 40 butterfly species, as many butterflies require specific host plants. The garden supports all stages of their lifecycle. However, Ram Murty observes that the overall butterfly diversity of the region has been declining due to the prevalence of monotypic gardens that primarily feature ornamental trees such as bougainvillea, Terminalia mantale, and Conocarpus. “The abundance of butterflies is not as visible. Climate factors may be playing a role. We need to conduct systematic and scientific surveys to confirm this,” says Ram Murty.
Published – March 13, 2025 08:10 pm IST