Machilipatnam Municipal Park has became a prime destination for children, students and families after the authorities developed special enclosures for rabbits, birds and tortoise.
Once known for walkers and senior citizens, the amusement place has been witnessing an unprecedented number of children in the morning and evening. The number of visitors rose significantly and number of the rabbits, in which white and grey rabbits can be spotted playing.
Starting with barely two rabbits few months ago, the enclosure is now a home for 20 of them, while half a dozen of parakeets are also drawing the attention of the visitors.
Apart from rabbit rearing, as many as seven star tortoises were also collected and being raised in an exclusive fountain enclosure.
“A couple of park staff was dedicated to maintaining and promising timely feed to the birds and rabbits.
However, absence of timely veterinary services has taken the toll of three rabbits,” said the municipal park superintendent B. Venkateswara Rao.
The entrance of the five-acre park, which was named after the land donor Makarla Venkataswami Naidu, is free both for walking and watching the animals/birds in enclosures.
The park timings are between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. Since the visitors are allowed to offer feed to the birds, rabbits, few pigeons and doves, the visitors largely children and families have made park their holiday spot.
Except for the park, there is no amusement place in Machilipatnam town for children.
“The park resembles a small zoo. Instead of playing in the park, children are spending time with the rabbits and tortoises,” says S. Revathi, an evening walker. Local leaders have asked the park authorities to chalk out a plan to import two deer from Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam.
This plan is yet to materialise and our plans to develop the park with more number of enclosures for animals and other attractions are on drawing board,” Mr. Venkateswara Rao told The Hindu .
