Dip in zoo footfall as rain cages visitors at home

VISAKHAPATNAM: Inclement weather conditions brought down the number of visitors to the city’s Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) to a dismal 350 on an average per day last week. The vast 625-acre zoo witnesses a daily footfall of a minimum of 3,000-4,000 visitors, which goes up to around 5,000 on weekends and holidays.
The rains have also brought down parts of the boundary wall and trees on the premises.While carnivores are not being released into their enclosures, precautions are being taken to safeguard the animals and check diseases.
“Not even 10% of the usual number of visitors frequented the zoo due to rains. For the past one week, we have been collecting around Rs 5,000 per day (per ticket costs Rs 15), which means barely 350 visitors are coming in. The revenue has been badly hit as the peak tourist season commences from October. Even during off seasons, the daily collection is around Rs 25,000. Such a drastic fall in the number of visitors was not witnessed even during the Samaikyandhra agitation months.”
In fact, during the Samaikyandhra stir, the lowest average was around 900-1,000 visitors a day though buses were off the roads. The annual revenue of the zoo is around Rs 1.3-1.5 crore or even more, informed zoo authorities. Not just the revenue, the zoo premises too wore a battered look. “Due to the impact of the rain, seven metres of the boundary wall has crashed down and several trees uprooted. We have put meshes where the wall as a temporary measure. Parts of enclosures housing pheasants and sambar have also been damaged,” informed Varma.
Assistant curator of the zoo Uma Maheswari, informed, “As a precautionary measure to safeguard the animals, half the enclosures have been closed. We are not releasing the carnivores into the open enclosure but have kept them in their night shelters. Disinfectants are being sprayed at regular intervals and arrangements have been made for phenol foot-bath for visitors near the back and front gates, to check against any infections.”
“For safety of the aquatic and amphibious animals, vents are being cleaned to let out the water from dry moats. The water levels of the moats are also being monitored and excess water being pumped out by diesel engines. Prophylactic measures such as anti-microbial footbaths, spreading of lime and bleaching powder in day and night crawls are being taken,” stated zoo curator G Ramalingam.