R. Krishna Kumar - The Hindu

Mysore, May 1: The Mysore zoo reckoned to be among the most prestigious in the country is poised to make a major departure from its primary objective of providing conservation education, and will embark on scientific research and species conservation.

The shift in its key objective is at the behest of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) which suggested that Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, which is better known as Mysore zoo, take up research on species conservation and establish a separate cell exclusively for the purpose.

Mysore zoo, which was established in 1892 and is among the oldest zoological gardens in the world, has an ongoing programme of captive breeding of endangered species like the Lion tailed macaque and the Indian bison or the Gaur. But these were not regular, as its primary objective as indicated in its mission statement was to educate the people regarding wildlife, their habitat, food habits etc.

PRIZED POSSESION: Exotic species like the lions are among the rare exhibits at the Mysore zoo.
PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Executive director of the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens Manoj Kumar told The Hindu that the CZA was keen that such a centre be established in Mysore and the zoo move towards species conservation and breeding of endangered species.

"This means establishing a full-fledged and state-of-the-art wildlife biological laboratory complemented by a battery of researchers and field biologists and this will be a full time job," he said.

The issue will be discussed at the Zoo Governing Council meeting to be held some time during May and the draft plans will be submitted to the Government for its approval, said Mr. Manoj Kumar.

Establishing a full-fledged research and conservation breeding centre entails acquiring an additional 25 acres of land within a radius of 20 km of the city, but we will also explore the option of setting up such a research centre adjoining the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the vicinity of Mysore, according to Mr. Manoj Kumar.

He disclosed that the CZA's suggestions came up when he submitted the master plan for Mysore zoo at a meeting held in Bhubaneswar recently.

But the Central Zoo Authority was keen that Mysore zoo, which has evolved and established itself as a top-notch centre for wildlife conservation education, now graduate to conservation research and breeding of endangered species on a regular basis.

Mr. Manoj Kumar said if the new centre was established outside the present premises, then the Mysore zoo would be the first in the country to have a satellite conservation breeding centre.

Establishment of the species conservation and breeding centre will be part of the master plan for the zoo with a 20-year perspective that was submitted by Mr. Manoj Kumar.

However, the existing zoo per se will not undergo any major transformation but for improvement in the animal habitat while the zoo's role as a centre for education in wildlife conservation will continue. Mr. Manoj Kumar said that the zoo would get more greenery to cover the physical concrete structures that house the animals and seems to be incongruous in a natural setting.

The landscape may be redesigned while the CZA suggested that the animals be housed in a manner that the animals on display are not below the eye-level of the visitors.

The major face-lift envisaged for the zoo also provides for improving amenities for visitors and upgrading the veterinary services.