Pilikula Biological Park all set to welcome visitors

MANGALURU: Pilikula Biological Park, among the 14 largest zoos in India, is set to roar back into action – either on Tuesday or Wednesday. Close on the heels of Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysuru announcing its decision to open to the public on June 8, park authorities here have decided to follow suit after consulting district administration. Spread across 82 hectares, the park was closed on March 25 when lockdown 1.0 came into force.
Part of Pilikula Nisargadhama project at Moodushedde village near here, apart from the recently set up regional Science Centre on the 400-hectare Nisargadhama is one of the major tourist hubs in the region, says H Jayaprakash Bhandary, director of the park. “Our preparations all along have been to ensure a quick turnaround to open the biological park post-lockdown once we receive the order, which we did on June 6,” Bhandary told TOI.
Thermal scanners, hand sanitizing equipment for staff and visitors are in place for the post-pandemic unlock scenario, he said. Due care has been taken to sanitize the biological park premises in the interim, Bhandary said, adding the entire exercise has been handled out of internal funds. “A CSR grant of Rs 3.5 crore that MRPL gave in June 2019 has helped us out to a great extent in managing the routine affairs of the park,” Bhandary said.
With gate receipts nil in the last 70-odd days of lockdown, Bhandary said the park is largely dependent on donors to keep the show running. Unlike other large zoos that get grants from state governments or their respective civic body, Pilikula Biological Park that is administered by a society, must tap into CSR funds. Animal adoption programmes help take care to a large extent feeding cost of the 1400-odd animals of different kinds at the park, he says.
Central Zoo Authority chips in with funds regularly for development projects approved by it, he said. Ever since the park was opened for visitors in 2014, the park has worked to generate funds mainly from donations for the various development works initiated, he said. It is the only zoo recognized as a breeding centre for King Cobras and also functions as a rescue centre for wounded wildlife, Bhandary said action will return to the park this week.