GUWAHATI: Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden is likely to get revamped soon in this financial year as a proposal to the government has already been sent by the zoo authorities.
Talking to G Plus, sate Zoo Divisional Forest officer (DFO), Tezas Mariswamy, revealed that revamp work of the zoo would take place from the root level which has become the utmost necessity and need of the hour.
“We are thinking of setting up a zoo society. The zoo society would comprise a surplus fund to carry out the maintenance and other minor or major expenditures in the zoo. Some basic needs like providing fodder to the animals would be carried out by the zoo society. To carry out works in the zoo we have to make proposals to the government which is, at times, time consuming. Such societies are there in operation in Mysore zoo since 1970s. Zoo infrastructure gets fillip from such societies,” Mariswami said.
The budget of the zoo society would be around Rs 2 crores.
Along with the zoo society, the animals would also be provided with new enclosures.
“A proposal to the government has been sent and bids have been called for architects and designers specialised in designing enclosures for animals.
Nocturnal house in Zoo pending
The zoo authorities carried out a construction of a nocturnal house to accommodate nocturnal animals of the zoo under one shelter. The project costs above Rs 1 crore. Till date, the house has not been operational due to technical difficulties.
“Sufficient air supply has to be provided if nocturnal animals are to be kept under one roof. Work is in progress to fit air conditioners in the house. The animals are released now,” an official said.
Depending on animal exchange to boost infrastructure
On Friday, a group of Chinese officials of Chimelong Safari park in Guangzhou in China visited the state zoo in the city. The Chinese came here on an exposure tour to have a watch on the One horned Rhinos that are on bids under an animal exchange proggrame with Chinese. A Giraffe and a Zebra would be taken from China.
Zoo sources said that plans have been made to touch the level of Mysore Zoo which is regarded as one of the best zoos in the country by 2020. Animal exchange programmes in November with Ranchi Zoo and Kanpur Zoo would give a major fillip to infrastructure of the zoo, Sources said.
Sangai Deer from Kanpur Zoo would be brought by giving away crocodiles and ostrich would be brought in exchange of hyena.
Sources said there are 1,204 animals in the state zoo as on September 1, 2018. 617 are mammals, 472 are birds, and 115 are reptiles. As many as 73 animals died due to various reasons in the past one year. As many as 148 animals have been brought from other places.
Out of the 105 animals that died in the last two years, 45 died of disease, 31 died of old age and 29 went missing. 73 were mammals, 30 were birds and 2 were reptiles.
