Assembly panel pitches for Singapore-style makeover of Visakhapatnam zoo
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu on Tuesday promised full support for developing the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) to international standards, on the
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu on Tuesday promised full support for developing the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) to international standards, on the lines of Singapore’s Mandai zoo, after the day-long inspection by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Committee on Wildlife and Environment Protection, which he heads. “In every annual budget, the government must give priority to the zoo. Without priority, the situation lacks clear direction,” Mr. Ayyanna Patrudu said after sitting through the IGZP curator G. Mangamma’s presentation. Curator G. Mangamma highlighted the zoo’s strengths and challenges to the committee. Sanctioned in 1972 and opened in 1977, the zoo spreads over 625 acres and houses 1,404 animals of 108 species in 81 enclosures. She said: “The IGZP is the coordinating zoo for the Asiatic wild dog (dhole) breeding programme.
The zoo in 2025-26 exchanged animals with four other zoos. A single veterinarian, assisted by one helper, attends to the entire collection. Of the 81 sanctioned posts, only 22 have been filled so far.” Calling for measures to bridge the gap between the zoo’s income and its running costs, the Speaker suggested that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) could allocate funds for zoo upkeep. He also noted that the 120 factories in the region could contribute ₹2-3 crore annually under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Pointing to the inadequate number of toilets for the nearly 4,000 daily visitors and a drinking water problem, the Speaker told the zoo administration, “Include water tanks in the required budget; we will not leave this issue until it is resolved.” The panel also examined proposals for an overbridge linking the zoo with Kambalakonda Eco Park, a new reptile house complex, a neonatal intensive care unit at the zoo hospital and the addition of flagship species, including jaguar, puma, chimpanzee, hoolock gibbon and orangutan, to the collection.
After planting saplings, the members visited the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary and its animal rescue centre, laying the foundation stone for an additional watchtower and a pagoda. Later in the afternoon, during a review meeting with Forest, Revenue, Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) officials at the Collectorate, the Speaker estimated the zoo’s annual financial requirement to would be a minimum of ₹10 crore. He said that a committee would recommend a special action plan for wildlife, forest and environment protection, including legal reforms if required, in a comprehensive report to the Assembly. Collector M. Abhishikth Kishore said ₹3 crore would be raised through CSR contributions. MLC Palavalasa Vikranth said a VMRDA study of the Mandai model would be ready by the end of August.
The BriefWire