Team Herald
PANJIM: The State’s lone Bondla Zoo is likely to welcome a new pair of tigers this year.
Speaking to Herald, Deputy Conservator of Forest (wildlife and eco-tourism), North division, Jabestin Arulraj said that talks with Madhya Pradesh State Forest Department to procure pair of tigers in exchange of gaur/ bison is in the final stages.
“Hopefully, we will get new tigers in the zoo this year. We are expecting their arrival before the tourist season starts,” Arulraj said. The DCF said that Chief Wildlife Warden Santosh Kumar has put in efforts to get the tiger pair.
Anulraj said that the department has already started revamping facilities like the shelter area, feeding chambers and night shelters for the tigers and space for their independent movement in the zoo.
The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has directed the department to put in place proper facilities in place to accomodate the tiger pair at the Zoo.
Arulraj said that since 2019, the department is working on modifying or restructuring the amenities at the zoo including enclosures and other in-house amenities to the animals.
“In a year or two, the entire zoo will be revamped,” he said, adding that the finalisation of the Zoo Master Plan is also in process.
The existing zoo structures date back to 1969 to 1975.
The State Forest Department had in September 2017 written to Dr Shivaram Karnath Biological Park, Mangaluru, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, popularly known as ‘Mysuru Zoo’, and a Bengaluru zoo for a new pair of tigers in exchange of either a bison family or deer family. However, the proposal had not worked out.
