The Hindu : Front Page : Work on zoo starts in Tiruchi

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Thursday, Jun 25, 2009
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Work on zoo starts in Tiruchi

R. Rajaram

Rs. 81 lakh for construction of wall
It will house over 500 animals

TIRUCHI: Preparatory work on establishment of a zoological park inside the sprawling Reserve Forest at M.R. Palayam, a few kilometres away from the city, is set to commence shortly.

The State Government issued an order a few days ago releasing Rs. 81 lakh for construction of a compound wall with ‘chain link fencing’ to a 5.4 km length around the proposed “medium” zoo that adjoins the Tiruchi-Chennai national highway.

The amount includes 50 per cent share by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), an autonomous statutory body under the Union Ministry Environment and Forests, as the zoo is to be set up with funds shared by the CZA and the State government.

Tenders for the compound wall construction work would be called for shortly, District Forest Officer D. Mani told The Hindu on Tuesday. The Forest Department authorities expect the work to be completed by October.

The CZA has already approved a detailed layout of the zoo which will house over 500 animals of 35 species that includes spotted deer, hyena, Indian gaur, jackal, panther, lion, jaguar, peacock, aquatic birds, swamp birds, marine birds, monkey, fox and reptiles. The Forest Department has made provisions for future development in the zoo which would have a host of facilities including a veterinary hospital, parking lot, restaurant, captive breeding centre and an isolation ward for treating resident animals.

A comprehensive long –term master plan for the zoo, which would come up on over 60 hectares, had been forwarded to the CZA through the State government, the Department authorities here said.

The master plan, which provides a road map for future expansion of the zoo, also contains a disaster management scheme to evacuate animals. It has also proposed Electronic Beat Security Patrolling System for enhanced security of the zoo. Forest officials said water harvesting structures would be established within the zoo to improve ground water table and borewells would be sunk.

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