VOC Park and Zoo in Coimbatore, India is to get a Rs200m ($2.9m) makeover with the zoo merged with the rest of the park, increasing its footprint to 3.8 hectares.
VOC Park is a zoological garden and amusement park in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It houses around 890 animals including birds, mammals and reptiles as well as a toy train and aquarium. The park is named after freedom fighter V O Chidambaram Pillai and is managed by Coimbatore City Corporation.
The works will enable the zoo to gain a licence from the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZA). It has been operating without a licence since its last one expired more than a year ago.
“Only after the facelift is given to the zoo, will we obtain a licence from the CZA,” a corporation official told the Times of India.
A proposal was sent to the state government last week based on guidelines from the CZA. The plans include adding new species of reptile to the zoo as well as a battery powered car ride.
E Senthilnathan, director of the zoo, said: “The zoo will be expanded to over 9.5 acres [3.8 hectares] after merging it with the park area that is adjacent to the zoo.”
He added that the zoo is also waiting for approval from the CZA before beginning work.
As soon as approvals come from the state government and CZA, the zoo will hire a consultant to put together detailed plans for the work. Coimbatore City Corporation is planning to hire one consultant to handle the entire project from design to construction.
“The consultant will have to coordinate and revamp the zoo as per central government norms so that the licence could be obtained,” the official added.
Image: c. Pratheept2000
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/city-zoo-to-get-a-makeover/articleshow/64101738.cms
