World Environment Day: Zoo plans various activities

In a press release here, K B Markandiah, executive director of the zoo, has said on June 1, there will be identification of birds at Karanji Lake Nature Park from 8.30 am to 10 am, drawing competition for students in 5 categories, from 10 am to 12 noon and drawing competition for physically challenged group of people at Karanji Lake Nature Park between 10 am and 12 noon.

On June 2, there will be quiz competition for High School students from 10 am. to 1 pm.
On June 6, a procession of students holding pla cards depicting the importance of
environment and its conservation with slogans will start from the Deputy
Commissioner’s office up to Mysore Zoo at 8.30 am. It is followed by planting of saplings and valedictory of the World Environment Day and distribution of prizes to the winners of various competitions.

He said the Mysore zoo is conducting various educational programmes throughout the year and is one of the first zoo in the country to conduct varieties of conservation educational programmes.

The Forestry College at Ponnampet deputes its students to Mysore Zoo for study of various aspects relating to maintenance of zoo animals like preparation of animal feeding items and their distribution, maintenance of carnivores, maintenance of animal health, visitors survey, referring books about wild animals in the Zoo Library, primates, importance of cleanliness, daily routine works, educational activities and relevant works.
The current year’s training programme ended on May 22.

Markandiah said the Mysore zoo is a model institution amongst the Indian zoos in maintenance of wild animals. Every year the Zoo is conducting Animal Keepers’ training programme under the sponsorship of Central Zoo Authority. During the month of January this year, the zoo has conducted a training programme for the Animal Keepers of South Indian Zoos. Now the zoo trained all the Animal Keepers of Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, in two batches of four days each and the training for first batch of Animal Keepers between May 23 and 26 and training programme for second batch will begin from June 1 to 4.

 It is well known that, in the recent days the vermi compost gain more popularity and there is great a demand for this from the Farmers as well as the Government Departments.

Since Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens achieved more success in preparation of vermi compost, the zoo conducted a day-long training programme for the farmers on May 25, in which 25 farmers from H D Kote, Hunsur, K R Nagar, Mysore, Nanjangud, Periyapatna and T Narasipur Taluk participated. They will be trained about the utility value of vermi compost, its preparation techniques and solid waste management with practical work.