New arrivals to enthral visitors at Amirthi Park in Vellore

Amirthi Zoological Park in Vellore has welcomed new arrivals of two mugger crocodiles, three star tortoises and four rat snakes from Coimbatore's defunct VOC Park Zoo. Forest officials led by DFO S. Kalanidhi inspected the species and ensured special care was taken in their transportation. The 25-hectare zoo, founded in 1967, is home to 130 spotted deer, birds, snakes, porcupines, crocodiles and star tortoises. The CZA restricts the zoo to bringing or exchanging wild species only from other zoos, not from the wild. It registers a footfall of 400 visitors daily.

Two mugger crocodiles, three star tortoise and four rat snakes have been brought in by road from the defunct VOC Park Zoo in Coimbatore to the Amirthi Zoological Park in Vellore.

A team of forest officials led by S. Kalanidhi, District Forest Officer (DFO), Vellore, inspected the new arrivals at the zoo. “Special care has been taken in the transportation of the species. Visitors are allowed to see them,” said S. Gunasekaran, Forest Range Officer (Amirthi zoo). 

Amirthi Zoo, spanning 25 hectares on the northern part of Jawadhu Hills, was founded in 1967. The zoo is encompassed of two RFs, Thellai RF and Puthur RF, waterfalls, birds, snakes, porcupines, crocodiles, and star tortoises. Spotted deer formed the majority of species in the zoo with their count shooting up to 130.

At present, the zoo officials have been working on bringing a variety of wild species from other zoos in the State to attract more tourists. Forest officials said the Amirthi Zoological Park, which has been classified as a mini-zoo, can accommodate only herbivores as per the norms of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). Also, the zoo is restricted to bringing or exchanging wild species only from other zoos, and not from the forests or the wild.

The zoo registers a footfall of over 400 visitors every day.