Parks, zoo come alive once again

It was a welcome relief for the residents to see recreational facilities reopening in the district after a gap of 17 months, when they were closed for the public to contain the contagion.
A large crowd thronged VOC Zoo on Monday to reminisce the good old days and unwind with family members. They, especially the children, looked visibly relieved, as they took a stroll along the 4.5-acre facility in the heart of the city.
The zoo was closed for the public on March 17, when fresh cases of Covid-19 began swelling in the district. The zoo, which is home to a variety of birds, reptiles and animals, is home to 532 animals.
Dr E Senthil Nathan, director, VOC Zoo, said more than 250 people had visited the facility till noon on the first day of reopening. He said the visitors were allowed in only after ensuring their adherence to the standard operating procedures.
It is to be noted that the zoo used to record a footfall of anywhere between 1,500-2,000 on the weekends and 500 in week days during the pre-Covid days.
A Manikandan, a resident of Rathinapuri, said, “I was finding it difficult to take my family out during the past one and half years, as recreational facilities mostly remained closed. We had a gala time today and could spend quality time together enjoying the outside world.”
Other families that TOI spoke to on the day expressed a similar view. All of them were in a jolly mood.
Most of the parks, which were maintained by the city corporation, were also opened for the public on the day. Corporation officials said 141 of the 324 parks in the city were opened for the public after cleaning them up. “We opened 43 parks in east zone, 17 in west zone, 16 in north zone, 45 in south zone and 20 in central zone on Monday. The remaining parks will be opened soon after cleaning them up,” one of the officials said.
The government museum in front of VOC Zoo was also thrown open to the public on the day, when the makeshift eateries next to the zoo also came alive to serve the visitors, who were seen digging into their favourite delicacies.
However, the botanical garden at the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University was not opened for the public on the day, as maintenance work was going on.