Controversies await hyenas from Kanpur

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even before a pair of hyenas landed from Kanpur Zoological Park, a controversy has arisen over the construction of concrete structures inside its enclosure. The enclosures of the hyena, jackal, spotted deer, barking deer and Nilgai were inaugurated during the previous UDF government’s tenure, spending more than Rs 6 crore. A zoo staff told Deccan Chronicle that they could have been completed in half the quoted rate.

Though the tendering has been awarded to private construction firms after Small Industries Development Corporation was blacklisted, it is alleged that the zoo officials had not got the final sanction from Central Zoo Authority as there had been no proper design on how each of the enclosures had to be. “At the hyena enclosure, concrete structures in the form of mushrooms have been erected. “It has been unwanted, and the ploy of the private firm is to erect maximum concrete structures as they are pocketing several crores towards the enclosure construction,” he said.

The same situation is happening in the ongoing construction of the aquarium on its premises. But a top official denied this saying that CZA’s last evaluation had happened early this year where they had not objected to the showpieces constructed at the various enclosures, especially those inside the hyena enclosure. Meanwhile, the authorities are expected to leave for Kanpur by the third week of July to bring a pair of the hyena.

There is a demand by the conservationists that multiple entries would have helped in the five enclosures where different species of birds and animals could cohabit. But a zoo keeper on anonymity told DC that officials were not happy for bringing in netted enclosure which is preventing the birds and animals cohabit. When no lateral expansion is expected here, authorities hesitate to facilitate multiple entries which would bring down the cost of enclosures drastically.