Flora and fauna that once flourished the planet earth millions of years ago forms the theme for the latest park being developed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) close to Jubilee Hills Lotus Pond in the city.
Taken up at a cost of around Rs. 45 lakh, the ‘Jurassic Park’ has been conceived as a representation of the animal species that roamed the earth about 150 million years back before going extinct.
Along with setting up of life size models of dinosaurs, the park will have plant species of that period that have survived and continue to thrive.
The facility expected to be ready by March 2014 will have life size models of dinosaurs some of which are going to be about 60 feet in length and rising 20 feet in height.
“The Jurassic Park here will have 25 models of dinosaurs of varying sizes and the design aspects of them have already started in the studios,” says N. Chandramohan Reddy, GHMC Additional Commissioner (Urban Bio-diversity). Some models of crocodile too will be set up.
Experts are also busy identifying and collecting the flora surviving from that period and hope to plant around 50 different species here.
“Based on palaeobotany studies, species such as the cycads, tree ferns, certain palms and gymnosperms are being collected and they will help recreate that period at the Jurassic Park here,” he says. The civic body’s estimates look at the dinosaur models costing around Rs.20 lakh and another Rs.15 to Rs.20 lakh going in for plant collections.
Museum
The other features being worked out at the Jurassic Park include a small museum and exhibition that details the life forms that existed millions years ago and the conditions that prevailed then.
“There were some dinosaurs that were carnivorous and others that were herbivores. The museum will detail all such nuggets and also presents various theories on their extinction,” adds Mr. Reddy.
