Hassan: The Gadag zoo, which received over a lakh visitors last year, is getting ready to offer new attractions, introduce more enclosures of lions, hyenas, wolves and ostriches and renovate the existing enclosures of the leopards and crocodiles in the hope of attracting more of them.
Spread over 40 acres, the Gadag zoo was established in 1972 and presently accommodates 377 animals of 35 species of mammals, birds and reptiles, including two tigers, five leopards, sloth bears, crocodiles, black bucks, spotted deer and sambar.
Under the master plan for the zoo, new enclosures will be constructed for lions, wolves, the snake park and hyenas. The designs have been submitted to the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi, for its approval , according to Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) of Gadag, Sonal Vrishni.
A new enclosure to house ostriches has been completed at the zoo as this does not require such prior approval , says Range Forest Officer Mahantesh Petlur . Four ostriches have already been ferried from Hyderabad to the zoo with the permission of the Zoo Authority of Karnataka, he reveals.
“The enclosure for the ostriches is 49 meters x30 meters in dimension and can accommodate 10 birds. A pergola in the ostrich enclosure has been constructed using natural material,” the RFO explained.
Ms Sonal Vrishni says the entry fee of Rs 30 for adults and of Rs 10 for children could be revised once the new attractions are added to the zoo.
