In 2022, Mysuru Zoo records highest no. of visitors in state

Mysuru: Between April 1 and December 31, the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) has earned a revenue of Rs 75.72 crore from visitors. In terms of the number of tourists, the Mysuru Zoo is in the number 1 position, while Bannerghatta zoo has recorded the highest revenue in this period.
Speaking to reporters, the ZAK chairman Shivakumar M said in the first nine months of the financial year 2022-23, 52,77,013 tourists visited nine zoos across the state.
Mysuru Zoo recorded the highest number of visitors at 25.05 lakh. In December alone 5.24 lakh visitors visited the Mysuru Zoo.
The total revenue of the zoo was Rs 24.76 crore which was earned through entry fee. Mysuru Zoo’s December number is the highest in the last few years, he said.
16.12 lakh tourists visited the Bannerghatta zoo. The revenue of the zoo was Rs 42.68 crore. “Under the animal adoption scheme, till December end Rs 1.62 crore has been collected,” he said.
Presently, the authority is managing two major zoos and seven minor zoos. These include Mysuru, Bannerghatta, Hampi, Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Gadag, Shivamoggaa, Davanagere, and Chitradurga. “We have sought Rs 30 crore from the state government for the development of the seven minor zoos,” Shivakumar said.
Meanwhile, tentatively three lion cubs will be released for public view at Mysuru Zoo on January 26. “We also wrote to the state government to handover a part of Mysuru Race Course for the parking space, which is likely to get government approval in the next one-and-half months,” he said.
Zoo directors’ meet
The Mysuru zoo is hosting a Zoo directors conference on January 18 and 19. It can be recalled that in 2017, Mysuru Zoo hosted this conference. This is the second such conference in the country in the last two months.
According to Mysuru Zoo director Aith Kulkarni, for the fourth time, this conference is being organised in the Mysuru Zoo. Directors of all zoos from across the country are participating in this conference. Around 65 directors are likely to participate in this two-day conference.
In this conference, various challenges, best practices in zoo management, cooperation, animal exchange, breeding and other issues will be discussed.