The Hindu 01.10.2013
Corporation renews efforts to shift zoo
The Coimbatore Corporation has renewed its efforts to have the Corporation Zoo shifted to the prison grounds.
According to Corporation Commissioner G. Latha the civic body was eagerly awaiting the visit of the Central Zoo Authority, scheduled to visit the Zoo by the end of this month.
At present the Zoo functioned with a temporary license issued by the Authority for mini zoos.
During the Authority’s visit, the Corporation would also request them to visit the prison grounds so as to obtain its permission for shifting the Zoo there. For, the Corporation had planned to shift the Zoo to the prison grounds and had also obtained the Corporation Council’s approval for the same.
Once the Authority granted permission, the Corporation would seek necessary approval from the State Government, which at present was seized of the matter.
It was only a matter of time before the approval came through, Ms. Latha said and added that the issue was whether the definition ‘park’ in the land use classification would also cover zoo.
The prison land measuring 45 acre was very much in the Corporation’s name and there were no issues regarding that.
Even as the Corporation was taking efforts, sources said that there was an urgent need to have the Zoo shifted because the number of animals had increased from 545 in August 2011 to nearly 900 in August 2013.
The 900 animals and birds shared a cramped 4.50 acre.
The space was inadequate for both animals and also the visiting public. On an average the Zoo witnessed a footfall of 1,000 on weekdays and nearly 5,000 on weekends.
If the Zoo moved over to a spacious location, the authorities would be able to take up captive breeding.
