Thiruvananthapuram zoo to relocate to forest site, drawing from Thrissur project lessons

Puthoor zoo offers blueprint for relocation of zoo in Kerala's capital: expert

The former architect of the Thrissur Zoological Park has urged the Kerala government to learn from both the successes and setbacks of that project as it prepares to shift the capital's cramped zoo to a forest-fringe location.

K.J. Varughese, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Special Officer for the Thrissur Zoological Park at Puthoor, said the Thiruvananthapuram facility's acute space crisis, 1,025 animals from 98 species squeezed into just 30 acres, justified Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan's announcement of a relocation plan.

The Chief Minister's concerns over ecosystem constraints and animal welfare arose directly from this mismatch between available space and the animal population being housed, Mr. Varughese explained.

Space crunch undermines modern zoo standards

Recreating a natural habitat within a 30-acre footprint posed significant constraints at a time when global perspectives on zoo management were constantly evolving, Mr. Varughese pointed out in a statement.

By contrast, the Thrissur zoo was moved from a 13-acre site in the heart of Thrissur city to a sprawling 336-acre forest area in Puthoor. The park, designed by world-renowned Australian zoo architect Jon Coe, took eight years to complete and has already attracted over three lakh visitors, drawing significant attention for its layout.

Land acquisition delays: a critical lesson

While the decision to relocate the Thiruvananthapuram zoo remained an administrative matter, certain factors demanded careful consideration, Mr. Varughese cautioned. The Thrissur zoo relocation had been delayed indefinitely owing to land-related issues, an invaluable lesson for any future project, he said.

Globally, zoo safaris were emerging as the new standard, and visitors who had experienced African safaris would certainly expect something similar, he added.

Reserve forests best avoided, estates preferred

The Puthoor park was established with approval from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, but it would be best not to consider a reserve forest area from the outset, Mr. Varughese advised. It was also desirable that a zoo and a forest and wildlife ecosystem not be located adjacent to one another; instead, estates near forest areas could be considered, he said.

Around 600 acres of land would be needed for establishing a zoo safari. Land that could be acquired at low cost for this purpose was available near Neyyar-Kottoor, he noted.

Commercial zone essential for financial sustainability

The operation of a zoo could not be sustained solely by visitor fees; a commercial area was also necessary, Mr. Varughese stressed. This would be possible on non-forest land.

Implementing a project that would require an investment of ₹750 crore, including the cost of land acquisition, through the State Budget alone would be impossible, he said. Alternative financial sources must be identified.

Maharashtra was implementing a zoological park as a public-private venture at Gorewada near Pune, and various avenues existed for raising capital for such projects, he pointed out. The history of the Thrissur Zoological Park at Puthoor reflected this reality, Mr. Varughese said.

Source: The Hindu