Kolkata: New Town mini zoo to host tigers, lions

KOLKATA: The ‘Harinalaya’ mini zoo in New Town, which chief minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated remotely from Howrah’s Panchla on Thursday, will soon host big cats, like tigers and lions.
State forest department minister Jyotipriya Mullick, who was present at the event, said the chief minister had announced that Eco Park visitors would be able to enter the adjoining mini zoo on the same ticket.
“Animals like zebras, giraffes, salt and sweet water crocodiles, birds and rare deer are already there. In a few months or so, we will bring in tigers and lions. We can bring more animals, like black panthers, monkeys and others if we can get more land. This is now the second alternative to Alipore zoo,” Mullick said, adding about Rs 19 crore has been spent to set up the zoo.
Forest department officials said the mini zoo has separate zones for carnivores, omnivores and herbivores. The herbivore’s section has already been set up as authorities were preparing the carnivore enclosure for bringing animals such as tigers and lions. The zoo enclosure, which is open from 10am-5pm with an entry fee of Rs 30, is being developed on the Central Zoo Authority’s guidelines.
Mullick said next on the line was to open a zoo in Garchumuk and to develop a dolphin breeding centre. “We have a target to open the Garchumuk zoo in another two months. A lot of dolphins have come on the Ganges river there and we can set up a dolphin breeding centre to enhance their growth,” the minister said.