Old enclosures at Bondla to go
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 23
The State Forest Department in its annual report on Bondla Zoo has planned demolition of old enclosures for animals as part of upgradation work.
The report states a number of enclosures constructed earlier have become old and do not conform to the modern concept of zoo design. Secondly, these enclosures do not meet the biological need of the species housed in them.
It states some of the enclosures will be completely demolished and a few others modified to meet the specifications recommended in the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992.
These rules and further guidelines of Central Zoo Authority (CZA) will be religiously followed while designing new enclosures or modifying the existing ones.
The report has said that certain species are highly specific in respect of their food and shelter. “Housing in a few cases will need more space for the naturalistic display as well as to meet their behavioural needs,” it adds.
The Forest Department has decided that in order to ensure broad taxonomic display, the area which was earlier kept for fruit orchard will be used for herbivores, primates and birds, besides new zoo entrants.
The upgradation of the zoo, in coming ten years from 2009-10 to 2018-19, has been based on the topography of the site, water availability, vegetation, climate, visitors profile, conservation, education and research needs and convenience of management.
Forest officials said that the proposal has been prepared section-wise.
“The recommendations of the central zoo authority during the evaluation of zoos from time to time has been kept in view while formulating the proposal for new structures or modification of existing structures,” an official said.
