JAMMU: Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Choudhary Lal Singh today visited various zoos and wildlife sanctuaries in Chennai and Bangalore. The Minster had a detailed interaction with the officers and staff of these animal and bird houses about the infrastructural and diet facilities being provided to animals and birds there. He visited Children Park at Guindy, Crocodile Park and Butterfly Park at Anngar Anna Zoo, Vandaloor Chennai.
The Minister was accompanied by Chief Wildlife Warden Tamil Nadu, besides Chief Wildlife Warden J&K, Suresh Chug, Director, SFRI Brij Mohan Sharma, Dr K Anandh Conservator of Forests. Chief Wildlife Warden Tamil Nadu apprised the Minister about facilities and infrastructure including diet being provided to the housed species (animals) at Children parks and Crocodile parks. Choudhary Lal Singh also visited Zoo and Safari Bannakatta near Bangalore and inspected Tiger safari, Lion safari, Bear safari and compartments of other animals.
Interacting with the officers of wildlife department of Tamil Nadu, the Minister informed that the J&K Government has also plan to establish a Jambu Zoo with an estimated cost of Rs. 120 crore at Khanpur Nagrota over 5000 kanals of land. He said the place would be developed on modern lines with all required infrastructural facilities where the animals will be kept in moats and not in cages so that the visitors can see the animals in natural environment. He said that the prestigious project will also have several facilities of tourist attraction like interpretation centre, parking lots, cafeteria, rest house, battery cars and zoo safari.