Pilikula zoo to be handed over to forest department

MANGALURU: The Pilikula Biological Park with nearly 1,200 animals will be handed over to the forest department soon.
Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Ravi Kumar M R, in a letter, has directed the commissioner of Pilikula Development Authority (PDA) to commence the process of handing over the biological park to the deputy conservator of forests, Mangaluru division, immediately and complete the same by July 31.
The DC stated in the letter that the permission granted by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to the zoo of Pilikula Biological Park had ended on August 19, 2021. Following this, the PDA had applied to the deputy inspector general of forest, ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MOEFCC) and CZA seeking extension of the zoo license for five more years.
The 106th technical committee meeting of the CZA had renewed the license for three more years.
The DIG of forest, MOEFCC had stated in a letter dated February 2, 2023, that the director in charge of the zoo doesn’t have adequate financial delegation to manage the day-to-day business of the zoo efficiently. Further, the PDA is not sufficiently sensitive to the needs of the zoo. It will make much better sense to transfer the zoo to Karnataka forest department for better coordination to address human-wildlife conflict, better sensitivity towards the need of captive animals and eventually better management with the help of a director, who is appropriately delegated, the DC said quoting the DIG of forest, MOEFCC.
The DC told TOI that he has sent a letter to forest department in this regard. “The Karnataka forest department has to issue an order soon. The process has been going on for the past one year. The zoo requires a technical wing to rear and take proper care of animals. The forest department will make all necessary arrangements with all technical support and necessary staff,” he said.