Kolkata: Birds in the open area and humans inside the enclosure. Alipore Zoological Gardens will soon offer this unique viewing experience for visitors in its 150th anniversary year.
The zoo has developed a new bird enclosure where the winged wonders will be kept in an open area, and an arrangement has been made for visitors to watch them from a 60-metre arena, called the ‘bird walk/tunnel', where all three sides will have glass. Visitors here will be able to take a walk with various birds around them.
The enclosure, probably the first of its kind in any Indian zoo, will be opened to the public on Monday. Alipore Zoo director Subhankar Sengupta said while the length of the bird walk will be 55-60 metres with doors at both ends, the width on both sides will be 25-30 metres each, and the glass above the visitors is fixed at a height of 20 feet. The open area with birds, though, will have net fencing above.
To start with, the zoo authorities have kept 200 birds in the open enclosure. Both ducks, ground-dwelling birds, and those who fly at mid-level have been kept there as of now. "Among the ducks in the water body there, we have Brahminy duck, knob-billed duck, and bar-headed goose. Among ground-dwelling birds, we have peacocks and pheasants," added Sengupta.
The new enclosure is located between the Murshidabad House and Sarnomoyi House, both of which now host various species of birds.
The zoo, as per Sengupta, has already got nod to keep penguins, Cape fur seals, African lions and green anacondas in its collection. "The green anaconda enclosure is ready, while work for African lion enclosure is almost over. Work is also on for seal enclosure. The infrastructural work for penguins is yet to begin," said Sengupta, adding that they have started talks with a few zoos in India to get African lions under exchange programme.
As it turned 150 this Sept, the zoo restored a heritage building recently to house all its deer species. It also restored its administrative building, a Grade-I heritage structure, and introduced a new enclosure for Bengal foxes and leopard cats.
The 150th-year celebration plans include involvement of schoolkids in various workshops and competitions, holding species-specific workshops, and involving zoos across India for sessions on management practices.