Kolkata: The state Forest department is coming up with a new zoo at Jharkhali near the Sunderbans in South 24-Parganas that will only have animal species found in the mangrove forest.
"The zoo will come up on a land of 100-acre. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) has already been prepared by Jadavpur University. The estimated project cost will be Rs 100 crore," said Vinod Kumar Yadav, Additional Chief Conservator of Forests, who is also the Member Secretary of state zoo authority. The Sunderbans is a natural biodiversity hot spot with a wide variety of animals.
Apart from Royal Bengal Tigers, it harbors a good number of rare and globally threatened animals including Estuarine Crocodile, Fishing Cat, Common Otter,Water Monitor Lizard, Gangetic Dolphin, River Terrapin popularly known as Batagur Baska and a few types of turtles like Olive Ridley, Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle etc.
Six species of Shark and Ray, which are found here, are included in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act.
Mammals like Wild boars, Spotted deer, Porcupines and venomous reptiles like King Cobra, the common Cobra, Banded krait, Russells Viper, while the Python, Chequered Kil-Back, Dhaman, Green Whip Snake and several other species constitute the
non-venomous snakes.
"Our aim is to have as many of these animals as possible in the zoo. The Sunderbans is a favourite among both national and international tourists and there is a huge flow of tourists through out the year. The zoo will surely be an added attraction," Yadav said.
The department has plans to set up a veterinary hospital adjacent to the zoo. The work for creating infrastructure like roads and staff quarter for administrative officials have already begun.
"The priority will be on breeding of animals. We have successfully started breeding crocodiles at Bhagabatpur in Bakkhali and have released many reptiles in the rivers. We have made a ten-year management plan for systematic crocodile breeding in estuarine water at Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project," a senior official of the state Forest department said.
It may be mentioned that Siliguri Safari Park that was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in January 2016, spread over an area of 297-hectare has already been a major tourist attraction.
The state Forest department has decided to only keep those animals and birds that inhabit the forests of North Bengal at Safari Park.