New primate enclosure at zoo inaugurated

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 21. The Irrigation Minister, Mr. T.M. Jacob, has urged the zoo authorities to be more caring and loving towards animals.

Inaugurating a new primate enclosure at the zoo here today, Mr. Jacob said the Government would spare no effort in upgrading the zoos in Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur.

He said the rhinos at the Thiruvananthapuram zoo would be provided mates and its breeding encouraged. Efforts were on to procure zebras from other zoos in the State.

Mr. Jacob said the second phase of modernisation of the Thiruvananthapuram zoo was underway. The construction of the open air enclosures for monkeys, bears, otters and birds (walk-in aviary) would be completed by 2003. The second phase includes construction of four more primate enclosures. The Minister said the walk-in aviary which is being constructed at a cost of Rs. 75 lakhs could be opened for the public by the end of this financial year.

The last and final phase of the modernisation is the construction of enclosures for reptiles, nocturnal house and re-organisation of the existing old cages. This phase would be completed by March 2005.

The Minister said that the modernisation would stress on "more facilities for less animals". Birds and animals would be allowed to roam free and exhibit their natural behaviour in simulated environments that reflect the characteristics of their original habitat.

The zoo would also take up the planned breeding of endangered endemic species such as the Lion Tailed Macaques, Nilgiri Tahr and Nilgiri Languor. The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo would henceforth conduct more on the manner of a "gene bank" for endemic species which face the threat of extinction.

The Minister said that the facilities at the zoo hospital has been upgraded. The Zoo director, Mr. C.S. Yelaki, welcomed the gathering. Mr. B. Vijayakumar, MLA, the former zoo director, Mr. Raveendran, and the former Chief Conservator of Forest (Andhra Pradesh), Mr. Krishnakumar, were present.

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