Pilikula to get bisons, wolves, feared hyenas

Tourists and residents will now have more than one reason to visit Dr K Shivaram Karanth biological park during the Dasara holidays.

Under the animal exchange programme, Dr K Shivaram Karanth biological park near Vamanjoor is all set to welcome bison, wolf and the feared hyenas.

"A pair of bisons, a pair of wolves, a pair of barking deers and two pairs of hyenas will be bought from biological parks, including Surat and Madras, in exchange for leopards, king cobras and tigers from Pilikula," Pilikula Biological Park Director Manjunath Bhandary told reporters, at the sidelines of a programme organised to mark World Environment Day at Pilikula Nisargadhama on Sunday.

Similarly, 'Military Macaw' (a wild parakeet species) will arrive from Ahmedabad, he said and added that enclosures for the new guests are being prepared. Bhandary further stated that efforts are on to bring two pairs of zebras and a pair of giraffes from South Africa and Israel. The animals will make the strenuous journey after ensuring weather compatibility.

"Though the animals are handed over to Pilikula free of cost, the transport expenses are to be borne by the receiving park. Correspondences are being made for raising the resources through sponsors. Zebras and giraffes would add to the attraction of the park and would help in drawing more visitors to the park. Currently, there are 1,200 animals of 150 species, including 11 tigers, 11 leopards and 15 king cobras."

14 electric buggies

Prasanna, Executive Director, Dr Shivaram Karanth Nisargadhama, said that Pilikula will procure 14 more electric buggies (golf carts) to ferry tourists inside biological park. Four such electric buggies are already being operated in the park. Tenders had been floated and new buggies will be available for tourists during the first week of November. The tourists can book these buggies at the entrance. CCTV cameras will be installed at more places in the Nisargadhama, he said and added that Pilikula Nisargadhama is expected to be elevated to the status of Pilikula Nisargadhama Authority in the near future.

Innovation hub

Pilikula Regional Science Centre Director K V Rao said, "According to the centre's directions, Pilikula Regional Science Centre would be an innovation hub for students. The hub will be aimed at building scientific temperament through activity-based learning process among students. The children will be acquainted with the working of digital panel metres and oscillators, which are usually not accessible to them in schools."

"A budget of Rs 1.8 crore has been sanctioned by the Central government, towards the programme. A proposal had been submitted to an expert panel. The Regional Science Centre will establish ties with NITK, St Aloysius College Biotechnology lab and other institutions to share their specialised workplaces with children, so that the young innovators receive a hands-on training to improvise the native ideas," he said

"The children will be guided to build models based on basic scientific principles. The participants may attend the sessions during their free time. The programme, tentatively named as 'Anveshan' will be started soon after the intake capacity is full. A nominal fee would be charged to the students. The schools, with the permission of DDPI, may enroll their students. Twenty students from each school can enroll into the programme," Dr K V Rao added.