Now, Mysore zoo to get its own rehab centre

The Sri Jayachamarajendra Zoo (Mysore Zoo) will soon join a select club of zoos in the world that have their own special rescue and rehabilitation centre.

Its proposed centre will be set up at Kurghalli in Mysore. “It was a part of the master plan to help animals recuperate after injuries for whatever reason. There were incidences of rescued animals brought to the Mysore zoo very often by animal lovers as well as the forest officials. Recently, a tiger was brought from Heggadadevana Kote forest. It was brought in poor health condition, but after being treated at the in-house sick animal shelter, the tiger has been nursed back to health and his body weight has improved. There are many other incidents of rescued animals being brought to the Mysore zoo and have been nursed back to health,” executive director of the Mysore zoo, BP Ravi, told DNA.

“It is not just tigers that are brought here in poor health condition. There are crocodiles, reptiles, smaller animals and even elephants that have been rescued and been brought here. We cannot nurse them in the zoo as they require special attention and sometimes they do carry some pathogens, which might spread to other animals in the zoo,” Ravi said.

Zoo Authority of Karnataka president M Nanjundaswamy said the government has handed over 113 acres of land in Kurgalli in Mysore Rural taluk. This site will have a full-fledged animal hospital with its own veterinary set up, which will be the first such centre in the country. The facility is expected to cost `20 crore and will take more than two years to be fully functional, he said.