The entry fee for the revamped zoo is likely to be Rs20, while the tickets for minors would be nearly Rs10.
Wants to see exotic animals at the Byculla zoo? Get ready to pay more to visit the zoo. The decision is being contemplated after the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) on Monday issued in-principle approval for the revamping of the century-old Veermata Jijabai Udyan and Zoo.
The entry fee for the revamped zoo is likely to be Rs20, while the tickets for minors would be nearly Rs10. Moreover, the charges will be more on public holidays.
Officials claim that for foreign visitors the entry ticket would be around Rs50. However, there will be some concession for nature trails by educational institutions. At present the entry fee for adults is Rs5 and for minors it is Rs2.
“The revamped zoo will be a tourist attraction. There will be 18 new species of Indian animals and five exotic animals. There will penguins and a separate section called ‘world of water animals’. The garden will also be newly done with more beautiful nectar and colourful flowers,” said zoo director Anil Anjankar. “The new charges will be applicable only after the revamp work is done,” Anjankar added.
“Additional money collected from the ticket will further be invested in maintenance of the zoo,” said a senior zoo official.
The zoo will have a rich flora and fauna of total of 340 animals and birds. It will also house an interpretation centre, the heritage structures on the zoo premises will be restored and additional amenities like toilets, resting place, rain sheds, drinking water fountain and car parking for the visitors will be provided.
Prominent attraction would be 10 pairs of exotic humboldt penguin from Chile, emus and zebra from Australlia. Indian species includes hyena, jackal, wolf, wild dog, sloth bear, porcupine, mouse deer, gaur, porcupine, sambhar, swamp deer, Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, leopard, jungle cat, common otter, palm civet cat.
The zoo authorities will soon get possession of the adjacent Mafatlal plot. Zoo officials say that considering the plot will little vegetation, it will enclose African species of animal. Moreover, the officials are concentrating on the disaster management aspect.
“We will also install CCTV cameras in the animal enclosures and the zoo. This will help us give a pan 360 degree view of the zoo and help us trace every minute detail,” added Anjankar. Around 26 CCTV cameras will be installed.
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