View zoo tigers through glass wall at Alipore Zoo

TNN Jul 26, 2013

 

KOLKATA: Visitors will no longer have to peek through railings and cages to catch a glimpse of the Royal Bengal tiger at the Alipore Zoo. Three of the zoo's eight tigers will be shifted to a glass enclosure by October. The six-feet tall glass will be the only barrier between the big cats and the audience.

While the old cages existing tiger enclosure will be eventually demolished, the zoo authorities are also planning to create a night shelter and a breeding zone for the tigers. This apart, a scheme for adoption of zoo animals is also on the anvil.

Gazing at a royal Bengal tiger at the Alipore Zoo will soon be a more exciting experience. Three of the zoo's eight tigers will be shifted to a glass enclosure by October. Six feet tall, the glass will be the only barrier between the big cats and the audience. While the existing tiger enclosure will be eventually demolished, the zoo authorities are also planning to create a night shelter and a breeding zone for the big cats. A scheme for 'adoption' of zoo animals is also on the anvil.

The zoo is undergoing renovation since 2009. Though several new enclosures have been set up, including a couple for birds. But it was the old, rundown tiger enclosure that cried out for attention.
"Three tigers will be moved to the new glass enclosure. The other five, too, will get to stay at the enclosure by rotation. We have imported this special glass from abroad. It will offer visitors an unobstructed view of the animals. Other than being safer for the big cats and the audience, the glass enclosure will also offer more space to tigers," said VK Yadav, chief conservator, central circle. Yadav now holds temporary charge of the zoo.

The cost of the glass for the enclosure stands at Rs 1.5 crore.

While the existing open enclosure for tigers will remain, the old cages will be removed. "It will be turned into green space. The old enclosure has lost its utility. Instead, the focus will now be on a night shelter and the breeding zone," added Yadav.

The glass enclosure will be almost double the size of the open enclosure. "It will spread across nearly 6 acres. The glass wall will have numerous small pieces held together and has been specially crafted. No other Indian zoo has a glass barrier like this one," said Yadav.

Meanwhile, the zoo is looking for sponsors to adopt animals. It will help to improve diet, treatment and living conditions of the animals. The funds can also be used to make new enclosures. "The flow of funds will help the zoo to keep the animals in a better shape. We have appealed to corporates, industrial houses and chambers of commerce to come forward and adopt animals," said Yadav.
Management of the Alipore Zoo was questioned when marmosets were stolen in 2009. Later, several kangaroos died at the zoo amid allegations that they have were not treated properly.

"A substantial portion of the funds from the adoption scheme will be spent on the animals' treatment. The idea is to raise the standard of maintenance at the zoo," said the chief conservator.

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