Team Herald
PANJIM: The Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has granted approval to the master plan for the Bondla Zoological Park that focuses on the holistic and integrated development of the zoo for the next 20 years.
In a missive to the Goa Chief Wildlife Warden on Wednesday, the MoEF&CC’s Central Zoo Authority (CZA) said that the Master Plan was scrutinised and deliberated upon during its 106th technical committee meeting held on September 27, 2022. The Master plan was recommended for
approval subject to compliance with the observations communicated by the members of the CZA’s Expert Group on Zoo Designing.
“Subsequently, the recommendation of the technical committee was approved by the Chairperson of CZA,” the letter stated.
The State Forest Department has been working on the plan since 2008. As per the plan, new enclosures will be built for animals like tigers, leopards and sambar, along with other upgrades to showcase the diverse fauna of the Western Ghats. The new plan has been
prepared as per the
guidelines laid down by the CZA.
Following approval from the Centre, State Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane held a meeting with Chief Wildlife Warden Saurav Kumar, Deputy Conservator of Forests and the Additional Conservator of Forests, to discuss the master plan.
As per the 2008 masterplan, the area of the zoo will increase from 10 hectares to 40 hectares. The existing zoo structure dates back to 1969, and was long overdue for a revamp.
Rane said that the Department’s goal is to make Bondla a unique destination that attracts both tourists and locals, similar to the Byculla Zoo in Mumbai.
He said that the State will be obtaining certain species from other States to make it an inclusive zoo, “an atmospheric envelope between nature and architecture”.
Rane said that the State aims to implement a strategic vision and a conservation mission on lines of the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We will ensure holistic and integrated development through this master plan, in the right perspective,” he said.
A grand entrance plaza, high-quality restaurants, recreational activities, a play area for children and other facilities are being proposed as part of the plan. The Forest Department has already received approval from the State government for the procurement of a pair of tigers. Sources said that the tiger and tigress will be brought from Nagpur, in exchange for a pair of bison.
The Department has also proposed the procurement of exotic birds and acquisition of barking deer, pheasants, exotic primates, iguana, mouse deer and grey jungle fowl among others.
