Indian gaur project awaits final seal of approval

Breeding centre on 100 acres planned in Mysore

The State government has finally given its consent to grant land for Indian Gaur Conservation Breeding Centre at Koorgalli on the outskirts of the city.

Senior officials of the Forest Department have given their  approval for allocating 100 acres of land for the ambitious project of Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens under the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK). With this, the project, which was in the pipeline for the past two years, is close to reality and awaits a government order to be announced officially.

The land is currently in the possession of local forest authorities with the Divisional Forest Officer at the helm of affairs. Executive Director of Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, B P Ravi told Deccan Herald, that once the land is handed over to the zoo authorities, they will mark a boundary, build a eight-foot-high compound and recruit animal keepers and veterinarians.

The aim is to conserve different stocks and breeds of the Indian gaur in an exclusive forest-like environment, away from human interference.

Once the centre is set up, zoo authorities will go by the orders of the higher-ups on whether to shift some of the gaurs from the zoo or bring new ones under the animal exchange programme.

The zoo at present has 33 gaurs including a new- born. Of them, 19 are males and 14 females.