The Hindu : Other States / Pondicherry News : Real forest area in Pondicherry might see light

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 25, 2004

Other States

Other States - Pondicherry

Real forest area in Pondicherry might see light

By Deepa H.Ramakrishnan

PONDICHERRY, NOV. 24. To see a real forest in Pondicherry with wildlife roaming about and trees, herbs and shrubs growing wild, one needs to go to the Manapattu area which has a cover of about 100 acres and has animals like mongoose, veranus (udumbu), snakes and birds. But if the plans of the Department of Forests and Wildlife workout, Pondicherry will be able to boast of a `Forest Museum', which will come up on 1.5 acre Swadeshi Cotton Mills land belonging to the department.

Speaking to The Hindu , the Deputy Conservator of Forests, P. Devaraj, said the department had asked the PASIC to renovate necessary buildings so that they could be used to house the museum.

``I have alerted the Forest departments in neighbouring States to help us with collection of material for our proposed museum, which we hope will be completely operational by the end of 2005. At the moment we are waiting for allocation of funds for the project.''

The proposed museum will contain different things that can be found in a typical forest (all kinds of trees and forests). They will range from antlers, animal skin, horns, shells, elephant tusks, stuffed animal heads, different types of wood pieces, flowers, seeds, bamboos, stones, fossil materials and grasses among others things.

Touch screen kiosks with animal voices, different quizzes and visuals would be installed in the museum, which would also contain a video and book library. Also the five kinds of land - Kurunji, Mullai, Marudham, Neidhal and Palai - according to Tamil literature are being made.

``Already computer simulated models of these types of land are being prepared. They will be made with cement and will contain the flora and fauna of those lands, the people and their occupation, etc it will be like a walk in exhibit", explains Dr. Devaraj.

The museum, when ready will cater to the educational needs of school and college students from not only in Pondicherry but also the neighbouring districts. It will also be an added attraction for visiting tourists. The only other museum for forests is in Coimbatore, called the GOSS museum, which is collections of a single individual.

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