Birds, reptiles of Coimbatore’s landmark VOC Park Zoo shifted to Vandalur, Vellore

Birds and reptiles from Coimbatore’s landmark leisure spot VOC Park Zoo were shifted to zoos at Vandalur and Vellore on Friday. The move comes after the Central Zoo Authority cancelled the recognition of the zoo and rejected an appeal sent by the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation in January 2022. It was remaining closed to visitors since then.

Birds and reptiles of Coimbatore’s VOC Park Zoo, a landmark leisure spot established in 1965, were shifted to other zoos in the State on Friday.

The Central Zoo Authority had cancelled the zoo’s recognition in January 2022 due to infrastructure and maintenance issues, and it was remaining closed to visitors since then.

The birds and reptiles were shifted to Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur in Chennai, and Amirthi Zoological Park in Vellore district.

The shifted birds include one Malabar pied hornbill, five Brahminy kites, one Sarus crane, 51 Rose-ringed parakeets, 27 Alexandrine parakeets, 18 Red-breasted parakeets and 13 Rosy pelicans.

Five Russell’s vipers, eight rat snakes and three Indian star tortoises were among the reptiles that were shifted. One Rhesus macaque and three Palm civets were also shifted from the zoo, which is spread across 4.5 acres.

According to the zoo authority, 22 black kites and 88 night herons, 30 Bonnet macaques, 11 Indian pythons, 26 spotted deer, 25 Sambar deer and 10 spectacled cobras that are remaining in the facility will be released in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR). The 23 Mugger crocodiles will be shifted to Amirthi zoo (2), Moyar river (2), Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (10) and STR (9).

S. Saravanan, veterinary officer-cum-director of the zoo, said trucks carrying the birds and reptiles left for their destinations by Friday evening.