Chennai: The Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur has emerged as the most sought after destination for Chennaittes this annual summer vacation, overtaking theme parks, virtual video game parlours and multiplexes. The recent hike in entertainment tax to movie goers coupled with the increased entry fee in theme parks due to GST has doubled the footfall in Vandalur zoo by 40 per cent.
Confirming the surge in footfall to an all time high, foresters in the zoo said that ticket collection during weekends is around Rs 9 to 12 lakh. Last Sunday, the zoo recorded 23,500 visitors collecting '12 lakh, the highest collection on a single day, excluding on the Pongal holidays. This May, more than 20 per cent are school students and another 20 percent are children below the age of five. About 15 per cent of couples also visit the zoo on any particular day. To ensure that those coming from long distances are not disappointed, the zoo will remain open on all days this month, foresters said.
The zoo usually draws crowds only during the Pongal holidays, but now even summer holidays are packed with visitors escalating the overall sales of restaurants and eateries located within the zoo. "To control the crowd and to ensure that animals are safe, night rounds and cycle patrols have been introduced and the zoo has also reached out to the Central Zoo Authority seeking funds for conservation and research activities focusing insitu conservation of wild animals," said a senior forest department official.
"A family outing to a movie with the restaurant bill easily crosses '2,500, but you spend just half of this when you visit the zoo. Further, children have the space to run about and scream," said K. Vijayakumar of Velachery.
