Mysore zoo to take up conservation responsibilities

As part of a nationwide initiative towards conserving endangered species in the zoos of our country, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Garden, popularly called Mysore zoo, will soon have an ex-situ breeding and conservation centre.

The centre will come up in an area of 113.21 acres at Koorgalli on the outskirts of Mysore, at an estimated cost of  Rs 18 crore.

Central Zoo Authority has identified 73 critically endangered species for planned and coordinated conservation breeding in Indian Zoos. Mysore zoo will take up the task of conservation breeding of Gaur (Bos gaurus).

Four Units

The conservation and breeding centre of the Mysore zoo will be divided into five units; game breeding and conservation centre (35.5 acres), rescue and rehabilitation centre (20.1 acres), administration block consisting of a hospital (16.11 acres), area for conservation and breeding for other species (24.18 acres) and an isolation zone (11.17 acres).

Speaking at a ceremony to launch the construction of the centre, executive director of the Zoo, B P Ravi said that the objective of the centre was to work towards preserving the genetic variability of the gaur species.

“At the game breeding and conservation centre, the population of gaurs will be maintained at 100 and genetic variability will be achieved by inculcating selective breeding techniques,” he said.

The breeding centre will help if endangered species are wiped out in the wild due to diseases. We can take the animals from the conservation centre and release them in the wild to restore the population of animals, he said.

Rescue and Rehab

The centre will also breed lion tailed macaques, wolves and hyenas, which are also on the verge of extinction. A rescue and rehabilitation centre will concentrate on captured animals and its care, while the isolation zone will be necessary to quarantine animals, in case of a disease.

Ravi said that the expenses of the compound wall, estimated at Rs one crore, will be utilised from the funds available at the zoo. The compound wall will come up in a year, he said.

Chairman of the Zoo Authority of Karnataka, Nanjundaswamy said that he would request the state government to allot funds for the rescue and rehabilitation in the next budget.

Chief Conservator of Forests, Markhandeya, Deputy Conservator of Forests, S D Gaonkar, member secretary of the Zoo Authority of Karnataka, R S Suresh were present.