The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park reopened to visitors on Tuesday after remaining closed for a month in the aftermath of cyclone Hudhud. The zoo had been devastated by the cyclone resulting in the falling of thousands of trees and branches on the sprawling 625-acre area.
Many of the animal enclosures had been ripped apart by the gales. Thankfully, the zoo authorities had taken necessary precautions and all the animals had been moved to safety before the cyclone.
The rumours that a tiger had escaped from the zoo had created panic among the public, days after the cyclone. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inquired about the safety of the animals during his visit a week after the cyclone. Zoo Curator G. Ramalingam told him that all the big cats and other animals had been moved to the night crawls (enclosures) as a precautionary measure ahead of the cyclone and they were all safe.
Almost all the enclosures 65 enclosures were repaired but some of the shelters for visitors were seen being repaired on Tuesday. The animals did not appear to be stressed and looked normal. Visitors were seen at the aviary, deer enclosure, cheetah and other enclosures. Logs of trees, which fell due to the impact of the cyclone, were seen graded and neatly piled up on the zoo premises.
