Written by Reet Mulchandani
Known as “Bartaffe” (bearded ape) in German for its white mane, the lion-tailed macaque is amongst the rarest and most- threatened primates. Typically found in Kerala’s Silent Valley, very soon, you will see the primate with a Gandalf-like beard in Pune’s Katraj Zoo.
Other new additions to the zoo will include the Chevrotain or mouse-deer, which is the smallest hoofed animal in the world, an enclosure for the asiatic lion, striped hyena, four-horned antelope and possibly zebras. A reptile section is also in the making.
Spread over 130 acres in Katraj, the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park and Wildlife Research Centre is home to 430 animals from 60 species. And since its commencement in 1992, the infrastructure has largely remained much the same — until now.
“The Central Zoo Authority made amendments in their policy of master planning. They have also raised the cap on exotic animals from 10% to 25%. A lot of things are in the pipeline. Most of the development will be done in the next three years. We can anticipate many new creatures. The number of exotic and indigenous fauna will go up from (existing) 119 to 150,” says Rajkumar Jadhav, the zoo director.
A 20-year PMC-approved masterplan (2013) has begun to see fruition, according to Jadhav. In the past two years, new enclosures have been built for jungle cat, leopard cat, spotted cat and a breeding facility established for the giant Indian squirrel, which is also the state animal.
Earlier this week, the zoo switched on water sprinklers for the animals to handle the summer heat. Due to the lake water being polluted, the zoo is dependent on PMC water. However, they are planning to build a 7.5 lakh-litre tank. Efforts are being made to improve the visitor experience. Landscaping has been carried out and a new entrance plaza is being made. The aim is hassle-free entry, says Jadhav.
The zoo opens at 9.30 am and visitors are allowed in until 5.30 pm, except on Wednesdays when the facility is shut for visitors, with tickets ranging from Rs 10 for children to Rs 40 for adults and Rs 100 for foreigners. Officials say that after Covid, the zoo has seen an exponential increase in footfall with 22 lakh visitors recorded in the 2022-23 financial year, compared to the previous highest of 18 lakh.
However, despite the increase in footfall, budget and revenue, the zoo remains short-staffed. The PMC has issued job notices for two more veterinarians, including a deputy director, for the zoo. As of now, Jadhav is the sole top official and the only veterinarian, often on call round-the-clock. “After spending 16 years on the job, I have become used to it. This is like my second home,” he says.
