Chennai: The Arignar Anna Zoological Park released on Tuesday, a master plan on what has to be done to improve the zoo over the next 10 years.
Under the plan, the zoo will get a safari area for the Indian gaur and bear, besides sprawling enclosures for tigers and leopards. In the report, the zoo has also unveiled its conservation plan under which critically endangered species will be bred in captivity.
The mega plan for upcoming years of the zoological park was drafted as per the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority and state forest department.
Various review meetings with biologists and wildlife experts were held to devise the plan for the scientific development of the zoo, a press release from the zoo said.
The plan will include a scheme to develop the appearance of the park, animal maintenance, interior infrastructure, zoo outreach and education programme, zoo management, green policies, improvement in layout, emergency services and also funds requirement till 2023.
New shelters for felines, including leopard, tiger and white tigers will be built. Under the layout plan, more water percolation ponds and a rainwater-harvesting system will be establis-
hed.
Exclusive shelters for amphibians are also in the pipeline. Similarly, a breeding centre for endangered species like lion tailed macaques and other monkey species will also be taken up in a phased manner, zoo sources said.
The release also noted that only 26 zoological parks including the Anna zoological park have a mega plan out of the total of 192 zoological parks in the country.
“There have been several security problems in the zoo premises and more CCTV cameras and surveillance should be enhanced as part of the mega plan, I lost my bag and purse in the zoo parking lot and a police complaint was also lodged, but to no avail,” rued Ms. Surekha Raj, a regular visitor to the zoo.
