HYDERABAD: The Warangal Zoo park which is all set to double its geographical area has big plans to attract more visitors in the coming years. Following the footsteps of Nehru Zoological Park, the authorities of Warangal zoo are planning to establish an exclusive Bear Safari in the park.
The zoo already has some bears, more animals will be brought from other zoo parks like Nehru Zoo Park in Hyderabad for the Safari, said Ch Ganga Reddy, divisional forest officer, Warangal. Once established, the Bear Safari will be an additional attraction to the Warangal Zoo Park along with its other special features. This second biggest zoo park in Telangana has one of the rarest birds and animals. There is an exclusive ‘butterfly park’ in the zoo and it also has the only natural incubation centre for ostriches in entire South India. Zoos and Parks Authority of Telangana State (ZPATS), a special body formed by the Telangana government to boost wildlife, saw an opportunity to develop the Warangal zoo as one of the best tourist destination in the district and directed the officials to expand its geographical area. During a recent meeting with forest officials, the ZPATS also asked them to add more species of animals and birds to the park. The zoo attracts more than 500 visitors every day, not only from Warangal but also from neighbouring districts. Currently, the zoo has 215 different birds of 12 species and 97 animals of 22 species including the wild bears, Reindeer, Sambhar deer and crocodiles. Recently, it has requested for one pair of crocodiles from the Nehru Zoological Park which are yet to arrive.
Ahead of implementing their recent plans, the zoo authorities have a major task to complete. Before work begins on ‘Bear Safari’, suitable conditions for animals in the newly added land have to be created. They also have to make necessary security arrangements to protect the animals. The DFO, Warangal, who is also the in-charge of the zoo park said, “once the additional land is officially handed over, a new fence will be laid around the entire park.”