At Zoo, bicycles only mode of transport

Environment-friendly measure in menagerie is five-year-old

Pedalling bicycle to office is the in thing in Mysore following the order of deputy commissioner to opt environment friendly mode of transport to work, at least once in a week on every Monday.

At Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, it’s the only mode of transport, making it a first
in the city to embrace green friendly initiative, five years ago.

From executive director to animal keepers, office staff to security personnel, all take bicycles in the menagerie. No sooner they reach work place on their vehicles- four wheeler or two-wheeler, they park the same in dedicated place and hop on to bicycles or walk.

Executive director of the zoo, B P Ravi told Deccan Herald, there are 30 bicycles for the purpose since the year 2007. Barring emergency, when the veterinarians will be forced to take vehicles, bicycles are the only way to reach places in the zoo.

Earlier to that, though bicycles were there, not many were ready to shed their love for
motor. The situation was such that animal keepers were taking their two-wheelers till the enclosures. At times, it was troublesome not only for the visitors, but also for the animals and birds who prefer serene atmosphere.

Gradually, the animal keepers too fell in the line.

Not only zoo, there are 20 bicycles at Karanji Lake too, another tourist attraction managed by Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK).

Ravi who is also regular in taking a ride on bicycle in the zoo just to take note of the happenings daily, says- pedalling not only helps keep environment clean, but also maintain good health for the user.

There are instances, when the curious visitors have asked for bicycles after seeing a zoo worker using the same.

Such is the response from visitors too. In a way bicycles are environment friendly and also visitor friendly. However, bicycles are not given for visitors.
But buggies, another green friendly mode of transport, is available not only for guests but also visitors to the zoo.

Another gate

In another visitor-friendly measure, it has been decided to construct another gate facing Mysore Race Club (MRC) for service vehicles only. Whenever the vehicles ferrying grass, fruits and also other essential commodities enter through the main gate, the visitors will be irked. If all goes according to the plans, new gate will be a reality in a month, Ravi added.