Nainital Zoo or Sher-ka-Danda is among the most attractive tourist spots in the region. A  high altitude zoo ( 2,100 m), it is home to many endangered species, besides several mammals like the Himalayan bear, Tibetan wolf, leopard, Royal Bengal tiger, sambar, barking deer, ghoral etc. It is rich in avifauna as well and houses the rose-ringed parakeet, blossom-headed parakeet, Lady Amherst pheasant, Steppe eagle, hill partridge, silver pheasant etc. Sprawled over a lush green area of about  4,693 hectare, the zoo was established in 1984 and was opened for visitors on June 1, 1995. It has been named after Bharat Ratna recipient, Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, and thus is officially called Pt Govind Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoo. The zoo remains closed every Thursday.