THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Twenty years of the city zoo’s future has been charted and approved, with the Central Zoo Authority giving nod to the zoo’s master plan. The plan is comprehensive, covering the numerous aspects of the zoo, like the master (layout) plan, animal collection plan, conservation and breeding programmes, training for zoo staff, disaster management and contingency plans.
Though the layout plan was approved by the CZA in January 2013, the zoo was yet to present the larger plan of animal collections and new vacancies needed at the zoo. Department of Museums and Zoos Director B Joseph presented the plan to CZA, last week. Both the layout and the master plan as such will be subject to review every five years.
As per this layout, the zoo will be divided into zones and the exhibits will be displayed according to their geographical distribution and place of origin. Fauna from the same region will be grouped and the zoo will be divided into Western Ghats zone, Pan Asian and Indian zone and African zone.
The construction of new enclosures was started only towards the end of 2014. New enclosures for Nilgai, Barking Deer, Hyena, Jackal and Malabar Giant Squirrel will be constructed in the first phase. The layout plan will be modified as the 36-acre complex has space constraints and the dimensions of the enclosures need to be modified accordingly.
Even before the approval of the collection plan, the zoo has seen through numerous animal exchanges, leading to the acquisition of species like white tiger and green anacondas. Currently it has 697 animals, birds and reptiles. As per the collection plan, nine species of animals and four species of birds are to be acquired.
But the zoo has defined the conservation of animals which are endemic to and endangered in the Western Ghats as one of its prime objectives. So special emphasis will be given to Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur and Malabar Giant Squirrel for collection, conservation and breeding.