PANJIM: In a major disappointment to the visitors, especially children visiting the Bondla Zoo, the State government has decided not to procure a tiger pair to introduce in the zoo but instead is contemplating to establish a first-of-its kind tiger park in and around the protected areas of Netrawali Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) had already granted approval to the State Forest Department to procure a tiger and tigress from a rescue centre in Nagpur, Maharashtra, in exchange for a pair of bison. The procurement was delayed pending ongoing redevelopment work of the zoo.
Speaking to mediapersons on Monday, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said that it is been decided not to get tiger in the Bondla Zoo as we don’t have the required facility.
“We don’t have the required facility including the kind of enclosure at Bondla Zoo to keep tiger and hence we are not going to get it,” Rane said.
“I am also a passionate lover of wild animals but I don’t want to get animals in a zoo without having facilities that they deserve,” he said.
Rane said that tiger requires bigger space to move around. “We have already put up a proposal to the Government of India seeking permission to develop a tiger park. We are looking forward to establish the facility in Netravali area. The tigers will be allowed to roam free within designated zones, instead of being housed in cages,” the Minister said.
The State’s lone zoo at Bondla is undergoing a major revamp, with the department working on modifying or restructuring the enclosures and in-house amenities for the animals housed there. A grand entrance plaza, high-quality restaurants, recreational activities, a play area for children and other facilities are being proposed.
Bondla Zoo lost their former pair of tigers Rana and Sandhya, in December 2016 and July 2017, respectively. Both animals had lived to a ripe old age, and died of natural causes. The pair had been procured from Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Vishakhapatnam in 2009.
