JOIN USThe decision was taken at the zoo governing council meeting attended by Nanjundaswamy, Chairman of the Zoo Authority of Karnataka, M N Jayakumar, additional principal chief conservator of forests, K B Markandaiah, executive director of the Mysore zoo and Mayor Sandesh Swamy.
Sources told Deccan Herald that the entry fee would be hiked from Rs 30 to Rs 40 for adults, from Rs 15 to Rs 20 for children, with 50 per cent concession for school children. For the first time, the zoo will charge Rs 100 for foreign visitors and Rs 50 for children of foreign visitors. The fee for hiring the battery operated vehicle will be hiked from Rs 80 to Rs 100. The charges for using the still camera inside the zoo will be hiked from Rs 20 to Rs 30. The parking fees will remain the same.
The entry fees for Karanji tank will be hiked from Rs 10 to Rs 20 and Rs 5 to Rs 10 for children. However, there will be no hike in boating fees.
The sources said the last time the entry fees were hiked was around four years ago and since then the cost of feeding the animals and establishment charges had increased. Besides, the zoo had a number of plans for development, for which it needed funds.
As there is no financial help from the State Government, the zoo was entirely dependent on the gate collection, funds from the adoption of animals and parking fees, the sources added.