The Arignar Anna Zoological Park, popularly known as the Vandalur Zoo is located in Vandalur, which is about 30 kilometers from Chennai city, India. Madras has the distinction of having the first public zoo in India as early as 1855. It was originally situated near Park town in the Chennai city. In 1975 the zoo had expanded and moved out of the Chennai city. The Tamilnadu Forest department shifted this zoo to Vandalur reserve forest in 1979. The zoo is located on an area of 1300 acres. The zoo was formally inaugurated in year 1985. This zoo is one of the largest in South Asia.
We had a splendid trip to the Vandalur zoo recently and were stunned so see the Vandalur zoo has undergone a lot of improvement with new animals making their comfortable home here. A wide range of animal life is habitated in this zoo. Here we found our answer to our question; why is this particular zoo is famous and whats different in it. The thing is the animals are not been put in a cage or beside the bars. Animals can be seen in large open island type enclosure, with wet and dry moats and hidden walls with simulated natural environment. There are totally 81 enclosures. More than 170 species of mammals, aviaries and reptiles are exhibited in the zoo.
We started with Lions safari. The forest officers took us in a well safe van inside the forest were we got close to lions and tigers. We were so close to those wild animals that only we could touch them as we are inside the van. But getting too closer to a dangerous animal was some thing a different experience. And after the Lion safari we were given maps and asked to follow it and go all around the zoo and watch all other animals, birds and reptiles. Inside zoo we could also opt to take the small sized electrical train which runs on battery or bicycle.The enclosure for the king cobra has an air conditioner fitted, as it cannot stand the summer heat. The soaring temperature in Chennai is bound to give the animals a tough time. All the cages in the zoo are well protected. They have thatched roofs on the top of every enclosure and fresh river sand has been spread on the floor to make it cooler for the animals. Water is sprinkled on the sand to provide some cool relief to the animals. Caves that are exposed directly to the sun are put under a shower twice a day.
Stone boards reveal the zoological nature, feeding, mating and breeding habits of the animals. The trees bear placards with their botanical name and other details. The zoo is woody, with plenty of trees. There are tree-lined tar-topped paths for a long trek inside the zoo.
There is a 'student zoo club', whose members are imparted training and education about wildlife management, conservation, animal behavior, their habitats, ecosystems, education, animal adaptations, reproduction, nutrition, animal housing and husbandry.It was a different experience; some thing new to watch; the behavior and actions of the animals. Get close to the dangerous ones and see them close face to face. One have to and must visit such places, with great environment with fascinating ecosystems coming together.
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