To drive down the Brand Bengaluru effect, the governing council of Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) has decided to rename Bannerghatta Biological Park as Bengaluru Bannerghatta Biological Park.
Earlier, it was decided to change the name to Bengaluru zoo. But after knowing people’s opinion and their sentiments it was decided to retain Bannerghatta in the name and add Bengaluru to it, B P Ravi, ZAK Member Secretary, told DH.
In a meeting held on Wednesday, the governing council members approved the proposal. Forest minister Satish Jarkiholi and member of Parliament D K Suresh chaired the meeting in which directors of all other nine zoos in Karnataka were present.
“Other zoos are known by their geographic location like London and Singapore. When Bengaluru is creating its own brand, it was decided to link Bannerghatta also in the same lines. However, Mysuru zoo is not officially renamed so. On paper, it is still called as Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens. So this is the first zoo to be renamed,” said a ZAK member.
Neither the BBP staffers nor the zilla panchayat opposed the move. So it has been decided to rename it from February. The governing council has approved the proposal. The minutes will be signed, and the file will be tabled before the minister for signatures after which the zoo will be officially renamed, Ravi added.