Karnataka to add 3 more zoos

MYSURU: Karnataka is likely to get three more zoos.
Forest minister Umesh Katti, who was in Mysuru to review the administration of zoos in Karnataka, held a meeting with zoo authorities and the Zoo Authority of Karnataka at the Mysuru zoo on Thursday, where he said he has plans to make zoos in all districts of Karnataka.
There are nine zoos, including the Mysuru facility where nearly 1,500 individual animals, birds and reptiles reside. In all, about 5,000 individual animals and birds are in captivity in the nine zoos. The three zoos coming up include the one being made in Kalaburagi where the compound wall and enclosures are being constructed. The other two could be in Alamatti and Ilkal, where land has been identified.
Katti said zoos have suffered during Covid and “I hope there won’t be any waves affecting the management of zoos”.
Earlier in the morning, while speaking about the Mysuru zoo, Katti expressed happiness “about the management. Animals are taken care of well,” he said.
LR Mahadevaswamy, the chairman of the Zoo Authority of Karnataka, said the minister was impressed by various initiatives regarding adoption and breeding. The minister suggested distributing animals that are bred in Mysuru and Bannerghatta zoos among other facilities in Karnataka with the approval of the Central Zoo Authority.