Dwindling income compels zoos in Karnataka to seek donations for sustenance

Mysuru: The curbs imposed owing to the Covid-19 crisis, in addition to the prevailing dread of the pandemic has resulted in the tourism industry taking a terrible beating this year. In Mysuru, one of the tourist hotspots in Karnataka, the future is looking particularly grim, and the widely popular 128-year-old Mysuru Zoo, its funds dwindling swiftly, is banking on the support of generous donors and philanthropists to nourish the animals in captivity. The zoo is home to more than 1,400 mammals, birds and reptiles, of which 500 are specimens of exotic species.
The zoo is renowned as a breeding centre for giraffes, many of those born here having been shipped to other conservatories such as Patna Zoo and the Bannerghatta Biological Park. However, having remained shut for more than two months during the lockdown, and its income having taken a hit, the institution is facing a crippling cash crunch.
The entrance fee paid by visitors remains the largest source of income for the zoo, the average number of visitors per year being around the 3.3 million mark.
The situation in the eight other animal conservatories of Karnataka is not dissimilar. Not only has the lack of visitors resulted in revenues drying up, but the lack of financial support from the government has only compounded their woes.
Member-secretary of Zoo Authority of Karnataka and additional principal chief conservator of forests BP Ravi admitted to the pandemic having taken a toll on the conservatories across the state. “Revenue from gate collection across zoos helped us make Rs 60 crore last financial year. This year, we have only managed to make Rs 50 lakh so far,” said Ravi, adding that intervention of Mysuru district in-charge minister ST Somashekar had helped the zoo earn Rs 3.5 crore in the form of donations.
BP Ravi who heads all nine zoos in Karnataka says Zoos are badly affected since the advent of covid pandemic. These facilities thrived on tourists. Lockdown restrictions and thereafter the number of visitors has dipped drastically, and major revenue sources of gate collection have dried up.
He said that an app had been launched to facilitate donations to sustain zoos and to adopt animals housed there.
Historian PV Nanjaraj Urs lashed out at the state government for failing to lend a helping hand to the conservatories in a time of distress. “Seeking donations should be the last resort. Mysuru Zoo, which has a long history, has not had to face such a situation ever,” Urs said.
A part of Mysuru’s heritage
*1892 Mysuru Zoo is opened
*150 Acres is the area across which the zoo is spread
*Mysuru Zoo was landscaped by renowned German botanist GH Krumbiegel
Big cats in K’taka zoos
*51 Tigers
*96 Leopards/ panthers