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Warangal zoo to be upgraded
State government gave its consent to allocate a piece of land measuring about 18 hectares covering the historic Padmakshi hillocks for expansion of the existing ‘Vana Vignana Kendra’ here.
- Govt allocates 44.5 acres around Padmakshi hillock to the existing zoo
- It will be named after Prof K Jayashankar after upgradation
Warangal: State government gave its consent to allocate a piece of land measuring about 18 hectares covering the historic Padmakshi hillocks for expansion of the existing ‘Vana Vignana Kendra’ here.
Vana Vignana Kendra situated on Hunter Road in Hanamkonda at the district headquarters originally designated as a mini-zoo and later Central Zoo Authority (CZA) upgraded it as a small zoo. It first started as a small deer park and witnessed additions of few more species later.
With Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad being the only major zoo with newly-formed Telangana State, the government has planned to develop the existing small zoo in Warangal into a full-fledged zoo with international standards.
The existing Vana Vignana Kendra is spread over 19.2 hectares (47.5 acres) land. The decision to upgrade was taken at a recent meeting of ‘Zoos and Parks Authority of Telangana State’ (ZPATS), a special body formed by state government to boost wildlife in Telangana. Forest department addressed a letter to Warangal District Collector G Kishan asking him to take measures for handing over government land around Padmakshi hillock which is adjacent to small zoo.
“Process to transfer the land to the zoo authorities is under process,” Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) Ch Ganga Reddy told The Hans India. As soon as the survey is over, the department would take over the land for further development, he added.
According to Ganga Reddy, the natural rock formations at Padmakshi hillock would add great aesthetic look to the zoo besides providing space for more animal and bird enclosures. Padmakshi temple on the hillocks would remain open to the tourists even after the land is given to the zoo, he said.
At present, small zoo consists of 316 living creatures – reptiles, mammals and birds such as black buck, neelgai, hog deer, barking deer and mouse deer, bears, sambhar, crocodiles and a butterfly park.
It is planned to acquire tigers for which clearance from Zoo Authority of India is awaited, said Ganga Reddy. “Once developed it would become a great tourist attraction in Warangal as well as for the people of neighbouring districts,” he added.
By: James Edwin
