Asom zoo gearing up for new look

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Guwahati, Apr 21 (UNI) More than 200 locks every night, hundreds of buckets and mugs every day and about 70-75 brooms per month are needed to keep the compound clean.

These are not estimates of housekeeping requirements of a posh hotel, but the daily and monthly requisites of the Asom state zoo here.

While citing the figures, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) N Mahanta said, '' These are but just a few of the requirements needed for the upkeep of the zoo.'' The zoo also needs a large number of utensils, both for cooking and serving food for the animals, who regularly damage the dishes and bowls, he added.

'' The list is endless if we take into account the wires, the recreational articles placed in the cages, bulbs and electrical gadgets damaged by the animals,'' the DFO said.

While the daily maintenance of the zoo itself required a lot of money, with the state government now taking up its renovation and maintenance in a big way, it would soon don a new face.

Several new enclosures are being made, many of which are ready or in various stages of completion Mr Mahanta said.

'' We are also planning to get new species of animals, especially indigenous animals of the North East, once the renovation work makes more progress,'' he added.

The Asom State Zoo cum Botanical Garden presently has 90 species of animals and birds, with total population over 900. Among the oldest zoos in the country, it is also the biggest in North East.

The emphasis of any zoo had always been conservation, breeding and research and entertainment of the visitors had been a supplementary factor, the DEO said.

'' The wildlife always holds charm for the people, so if we can keep the animals in an environment more similar to their natural one, even the visitors will appreciate,'' he added.

Under new plans for the state zoo, Mr Mahanta informed, many existing facilities would be spruced up while new facilities would also come up.

Roads, water supply, hospital, garbage disposal system, high power transformer, conference hall, parking area, ticket counter and toilet facilities are among the various facets of the zoo headed for a new look, he added.

On funds for the renovation, Mr Mahanta said, the Central Zoo Authority and the state government are funding the works. The corporate sector had also been brought in.

On raising the zoo staff, the DFO said, '' We may have vacancies but the force we have is very dedicated one and that is more important for ensuring proper care of the animals and birds.'' UNI

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