The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Minister moots satellite zoo with Central funds in the city

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Thursday, Jan 03, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Minister moots satellite zoo with Central funds in the city

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State will seek Central funds for setting up a satellite zoo on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, Minister for Culture M.A. Baby has said.

He was speaking after inaugurating the two-week training camp for animal keepers jointly organised by the Central Zoo Authority and the State government. As many as 25 keepers will be trained in various aspects of handling animals during the camp.

The construction of a satellite zoo near the capital city will go a long way in relieving pressure on space at the main zoo, “When large numbers of animals are shifted to the satellite zoo, the remaining animals here can have a larger living space and a more hygienic one at that. The setting up of a satellite zoo does not mean that the main zoo here will be closed down. This zoo will continue to operate as it is,” Mr. Baby said.

The city zoo needs to develop and the Central government was willing to give large funds for such purposes. However, Central funds would be given only for practical, workable projects. The State would develop such projects, the Minister said. All works relating to the shifting of the zoo in Thrissur to nearby Puthoor was progressing at a fast pace.

The functioning of zoos in the State must improve drastically, according to the Minister. “We are showing the same indifference in caring for animals as we do in caring for other men. Animals can’t protest or organise demonstrations. So we are let off lightly. But for this indifference, diseases such as the foot and mouth disease would not have come to the zoo,” the Minister said.

Animal keepers should be told about the symbiotic relationship between man and animal. The government was also attempting to make environmental awareness an integral part of the school curriculum, Mr. Baby added.

Earlier, the Minister inaugurated the new zebra enclosure at the zoo that will host the zoo’s lone zebra. As soon as he came to the enclosure, Mr. Baby told zoo officials, “find out whether there are any children who have come to visit the zoo. We will make them inaugurate this enclosure.” When the officials came back with a couple of children, Mr. Baby hoisted one of them onto his arms and showed her the zebra standing inside the enclosure.

Pannyan Ravindran, MP, and zoo director Elsy George were among those who were present on the occasion.

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