Global scale zoo at Thrissur in two years

Thrissur: The first phase of Thrissur Zoological Park Wildlife Conservation and Research Centre at Puthur will be completed within a span of two years, forest minister K Raju has said. The park, spread over 336 acres of forest land, will be the first state-of-the-art zoo in the country with international standards by focusing on both entertaining the visitors along with conservation of wildlife.

Even though the park was sanctioned 15 years ago, due, to lack of funds the project works have not yet been implemented in full swing. The minister who paid a visit to the site of the zoo at Puthur on Tuesday told mediapersons that in the recent budget Rs 15 crore has been allotted for the park and the works would be expedited in the next six months.

“If necessary, more funds will be sanctioned for the project,” he said adding that after completing the first phase of the park by setting up space for the birds and animals in the next two years, the Thrissur Zoo, presently situated at Chembukkavu at the heart of the town, would be shifted to
Puthur.

“Within the term of the present LDF government, the project will be completed,” the minster assured. Special officer of the project  C.S. Yalakki told this newspaper that the state government was planning to hand over the Rs 150 crore project to the Central PWD who in turn would invite tender from the best private firms and award the work to the lowest bidder.

The major attraction of the upcoming park will be its natural topography by conserving the hillocks and water bodies of the proposed site. With the completion of second and final phase of the project, night safari and tram way would be the major attractions, he added. The master plan of the park was prepared by Jon Coe, a leading international zoo designer from Australia and the Zoo Authority of India has approve the plan.