Mysore Zoo

I went to the Mysore zoo after a very long time with my strong team of five kids, my prince Athar with is four cousins aged around four to six years.( see the pictures in the photo gallery) The weather was warm, breezy and sunny. Luckily the majority of the visitors were young children from different schools, their teachers, and a few families.

Generally I never visit Zoos nor do I recommend my friends or family members to visit zoos. I think that a zoo contains a variety of animals gathered in one place for the education and entertainment of the human visitors. But from the animals point of view, it is a life-sentence in prison.

However there are some zoos in the world which are exceptions, zoo authorities often claim they are modern day arks, saving species from the brink of extinction, educating the world about wildlife and providing vital research into the lives of animals. Further some zoo authorities claim that they inspire people to contribute to their preservation.

With more wild animals making it on to the endangered list, zoos are increasingly playing a critical role in conservation efforts by augmenting depleting numbers of wild species. Last year, the CZA identified 63 critically endangered species for conservation breeding programmes in zoos

One such exception & exemplary zoo is the Shri Chamarajendra Zoological gardens or Mysore Zoo. This Zoo is one of the oldest & most popular zoo in South India. It was established under royal patronage in 1892, making it one of the oldest zoos in the world. The Zoo had been found on just 10 acres, now it is expanded to 250 acres right in the center of Mysore.

After expansion the zoo in 1909 it was renamed Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens after its founder. When the Maharaja traveled abroad he selected rare animals from these countries and brought them back to add to the zoo's collection. The Maharaja also made the Mysore zoo an "orphanage" for raising abandoned animals. The Mysore zoo has an excellent collection of animals, a beautiful outdoor stage and a colorful setting with the Chamundi Hills as its background and a contrived lake on its premises.

The Mysore Zoo has grown over the years. Now it's home to over thousands of animals representing hundreds of different species and include some very interesting species including pandas, Komodo dragon, Elephants, Lions, Tigers, Giraffe, Chimpanzee, Gorilla, Tapir, Emus, White fallow deers, and Water Monitor Lizard. This is the only zoo in India to have a Gorilla.

The best thing about the century old zoo is, the concerned authorities have introduced the in-reach programme (to know about the activities of the zoo & also details of captive animals) for the benefit of students. The programme will be held on Tuesdays, the day when the zoo is closed for the public.

Zoo director said, around fifty students and two teachers can avail themselves of the benefit of the programme by informing the zoo authorities in advance. The programme has become so popular that over 3,000 students had availed themselves of the opportunity last year. This year, the zoo has decided to provide this facility to more than 5,000 students.

Another interesting thing I found in the zoo is Animal Adoption Scheme. A creative step towards conserving the wild. It will not only ensure good fund flow but responsibility of the people.

Recently Karnataka Chief Minister Shri Yeddyurappa & Infosys employes adopted several animals. Kudos to Legendary cricketer Anil Kumble who is also the Vice-Chairman of Karnataka State Wildlife Board, has adopted a newborn baby giraffe from the Mysore Zoo. Kumble named it Laxmi and handed over a sum of Rs 25,000 to the Zoo authorities.

Anil Kumble is trying hard to get an Asiatic Lion from the Gir National Park in Gujarat and Indian Rhino from the Kaziranga National Park, Assam, for the Mysore Zoo.

Everything is interconnected. Our future and that of our children's, grandchildren's, further generations and all wildlife depends on the planet being in ecological balance. Animals, and the habitats they live in, play a vital role in keeping the environment in balance, so their preservation is crucial.

Continued..