CM Palaniswami inaugurates wildlife research and training institute at Vandalur

Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday inaugurated a wildlife institute of research and training at Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur and also named a lion cub during his maiden visit as CM.

The facility, set up an estimated Rs 7.13 crore, will take up research work on endangered animals and their reproduction and was a brainchild of former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa.

The Chief Minister also chaired a meeting of the Zoo Authority of Tamil Nadu where decisions to upgrade the zoos and parks in Tamil Nadu were taken. Besides the Vandalur zoo, Guindy Children’s Park and Salem Kurumbapatty Park will now get new facilities and battery operated vehicles at an estimate of Rs 9.12 crore, a press release from the secretariat said.

Earlier in the day, Palaniswami like his mentor Jayalalithaa spent some time near the animal enclosures and enquired about the diet provided to the wild inmates. He also named a seven-month-old lion cub as Vishnu.

Jayalalithaa had named the mother of this cub as Jancy. The CM also enquired about the food intake of elephants reared at the south Asia largest zoo and took stock of the amenities provided to the public visiting zoo.

Senior minister D. Jayakumar, forest minister Dindigul C. Srinivasan and rural industries P. Benjamin also accompanied the CM during his visit. Chief Secretary Girija Vaidynathan and principal chief conservator of forests Basuvaraju and P.C. Thyagi also attended the inaugural.

It may be noted that in 2013 late CM Jayalalithaa announced the forensic research centre at a cost of Rs 27.13 crore, with dedicated centres focusing wildlife subjects ranging from ecology, bird conservation, reproduction, animal care and evolutionary genetics but the project is inaugurated after a delay of three years and the recruitment of scientists and technicians for the centre is yet to be commence.