– Expansion from 10 hectares to 20 hectares with additional enclosures.
– Civic amenities for visitors like food courts, water taps, seating arrangements, washrooms, and a children’s play area are planned.
– Existing enclosures (22) will be doubled to house more species with improved tree-shaded sheds and water sprinklers to combat summer heat.
– Specific additions include female jackal (from vandalur Zoo) and a young male leopard under the animal exchange program; both animals will have specially designed enclosures as per safety norms.
– Entire water pipelines inside the zoo will be re-laid for uninterrupted supply.
– A fodder plot spanning five hectares will grow greens/fruits/vegetables for animal feeding purposes.
The planned refurbishment signifies well-thought-out efforts toward improving visitor experience and bolstering biodiversity at Amirthi Zoological Park. Expanding the premises to accommodate animals in environmentally conscious enclosures reflects adherence to safety guidelines set by regulatory authorities like CZA. Moreover, introducing new species such as leopards and jackals indicates diversification in wildlife displays that could attract higher footfall while enhancing educational opportunities for students-currently one of its primary audiences.
The integration of sustainable practices such as on-site cultivation of fodder aligns with broader conservation strategies intended to minimize dependency on external resources. However valuable these upgrades may seem aesthetically or functionally; their success hinges heavily upon effective execution within allocated budgets without compromising animal welfare or visitor safety standards at any stage.
For further reading: Visit The Hindu