Claws, Fangs, Beaks, and more...

There are only two places in the urban jungle where I don't mind walking a lot. One is the Zoo and the other is an airport. The thoughts running in my head from my visit to the zoo today compel me to write this post.

I am in partial agreement with the people who think that zoos are a violation of animal rights and should not be entertained because of the cages, the enclosures, limited spaces and not to mention the way the animals are treated (in some zoos). The "King of the jungle" strolling lethargically in its 1 acre enclosure as opposed to its majestic walk in the wide open spaces of the jungle, birds gnawing at their cages to once again experience the freedom of flying the vast blue skies and crocodiles lying in dried up pits instead of laying low to ambush their pray in some swamp; are just some of the many sights upsetting for an animal lover like myself.

As there are two sides to everything, let me also mention the positive aspects of a zoo.

Zoos are helpful in the conservation of endangered species, rehabilitation of injured animals, and in conducting research projects. They are highly educational and definitely entertaining for people of all ages. At the zoo; we get a chance to admire the beauty and grace of the animal kingdom. Educational programs help us in understanding the crucial role the animals play in maintaining the balance of life on earth to which we human beings are intricately connected. Zoos which are carefully designed to replicate the natural environment of the animals offer us a glimpse into their lives.

Our incessant thirst to occupy more and more land has led to frequent encounters with the animal kingdom, mostly ending in a disaster for them. We need to invest and focus our energies on continued education and research into the very nature of the animals for insights that will help us coexist in harmony and zoos provide exactly that. By studying a small sample of animals in a zoo, greater understanding of the species in jungle can be gained. A measure similar to the zoo is a sanctuary which is a designated area for protection of animals.

The entrance

Nehru Zoological park is located in Hyderabad and is spread across 300 acres of flat land with Mir Alam water tank adjacent to it, covering another 600 acres. The zoo remains open from 9AM to 5PM on all days except Mondays. It offers several safaris such as; the Lion and Tiger safaris, to name a few. The zoo boasts of over 100 species of birds, reptiles, animals. A decent sized aquarium and an arboretum are also seen.



                                                        
                              
                                                                        The Big Cats

The zoo houses Tigers, Lions, Leopards and Jaguars. Of which; the most popular is the White Tiger. Today he looked very relaxed and majestic as usual. My personal favorite of all the cats is the Siberian tiger because of its immense size and his smaller cousin the Bengal tiger (seen above on the right) Someday I would love to get a picture of a Liger (the hybrid cross between a male lion and a tigress). It is the largest of all known felines and currently not available in India.

                                                                                Birds section

The zoo has a wide variety of birds like; Vultures, Peacocks, Pelicans, Horn-bills and many other exotic birds on display. August must be the mating season for peacocks as we witnessed the bird proudly walk around displaying its magnificent plumage, always in the direction of the peahen. The feathers in its plumage are brilliant and radiant with hundreds of blue-green eye shaped designs. The bird would shake its feathers every once in a while making a 'whooshing' sound, to seek attention. Both the male and female are capable of displaying their plumage. They use them for attracting partners or when trying to ward off danger. The peacock is known as an ornamental bird and is the national bird of India.

Apart from the cats and birds, a small area is dedicated to reptiles where you will find the Indian cobra, Python and Monitors. Right next to the reptiles section is a smaller enclosure for nocturnal animals like bats and owls. However the entry into the nocturnal section is not free. The fee is a nominal amount of Rs.5.

50 acres of land which is sparingly filled with trees and has lots of greenery is the enclosure for the Indian elephants. Deers, Sambars, Elks and Bucks have several common areas, all over the park.

A small patch of land, full of plants, trees and flowers is the habitat of the butterflies. I couldn't capture any decent pictures of beautiful butterflies, as I was not equipped with the right lens. The butterfly park is located on the left hand side, just after entering the zoo.

The park is a also a delight for the ones who are interested in macro photography. Macro photographers explore the nooks and corners of all tiny objects. Most people specialize in photographing flowers and insects and both are found here in abundance.  

As I was heading out of the zoo, I was going over the things I had seen and captured in my mind. Nothing much had changed since my last visit, over a decade ago. The zoo definitely has tremendous potential but due to various political, economic and complete disregard for the animals, has stalled its progress. Without rambling about the what's wrong with the picture, I will jot down some thoughts on how to improve and convert the zoo into a fun, educational and money making establishment..


The following are some suggestions that I believe will help improve the zoo:

1- Handout a map of the zoo with every ticket.
2- Have clear and visible signs at every junction.
3- Construct more toilets.
4- Make the park friendly for the disabled.
5- Open more Snack centers at strategic locations.
6- Camera accessory shop and camera and cell phone battery charging areas.
7- Toy store with books, CDs, stuffed animals, balloons, t-shirts and other zoo branded paraphernalia. 
8- Aggressively promote the "adopt an animal" project.
9- Introduce the concept of "petting zoo". This concept is very popular overseas and will surely work   
     wonders in India. The petting zoo allows visitors to touch and feed the animals creating a bond between
     the two. This will inspire them to visit again and encourage new visitors.

Mahatma Gandhi once said "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals". I hope, that we as human beings will start respecting life and give as much importance to preserving the animal kingdom as we are giving to landing on the moon or becoming a super power.

       The future of man is heavily dependent on the future of the animal- Ravi Kiran. Kota